Sports

Puerto Rico’s World Cup Formula Takes Shape After Centrobasket

Published Jul 19, 2026, 11:10 PM ASTvia El Nuevo Día

Why this matters: The Centrobasket win and upcoming World Cup participation put Puerto Rico’s women’s basketball team in the international spotlight, boosting the island’s sports reputation and potentially inspiring local athletes.

The Puerto Rico women’s national basketball team won the 2026 Centrobasket, defeating teams like the US Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. According to team director Gerardo 'Jerry' Batista, the tournament served as an important preparation stage for the FIBA World Cup in Germany this September. Batista noted that the team competed with a similar lineup to the one that will represent Puerto Rico in the World Cup, unlike the previous two editions of the tournament.

The team maintained its core players while also giving opportunities to new players like Franchesca Torres and Abeliz Rodríguez Santiago. Batista highlighted the team’s offensive performance but identified defense and rebounding control as areas for improvement before the World Cup. The win marked Puerto Rico’s sixth Centrobasket title and fifth consecutive championship.

In context

SourceEl Nuevo Día

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