US-based center Bella Murekatete has joined the camp for the national women’s basketball team preparing for the FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 pre-qualifying tournament due in Kigali from August 19-25. The team is currently residing at Kigali Delight Hotel and is training twice a day at BK Arena. Murekatete, 24, has been playing college basketball for the Washington State Cougars. She was a big piece in the team’s success as it reached the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) semifinals. Standing at 6-foot-3 (1.90m), the center played in every game this season (36) and averaged 11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s Murekatete signs training deal with WNBA side Phoenix This year, Murekatete wrote her name in the history books when she became the all-time program leader in career rebounds with 990, blocks (188), games played (153), and games started (145). Through her five year-spell with Washington State, she stacked up 1,552 points, which was the fifth all-time in Cougars’ history. Before the season, she was named to both the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award Watch List and the 2023-24 Preseason All-Pac-12 team. ALSO READ: Basketball: Rwanda drawn in Group D in World Cup pre-qualifiers Rwanda was drawn in Group D alongside Great Britain, Argentina and Lebanon. Kigali will host the Group D and C pre-qualifiers while Group A and B games of the pre-qualifiers will play in Mexico City, Mexico. ALSO READ: Basketball: Rwanda welcomes ‘historic’ World Cup pre-qualifiers The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals of each pre-qualifier and two winners of each tournament will qualify for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments due in 2026. Provisional Squad Assouma Uwizeye, Faustine Mwizerwa, Jane Dusabe, Laurence Imanizabayo, Nelly Akaliza, Nicole Urwibutso, Odille Tetero, Rosine Micomyiza, Sandra Kantore, Shanice Uwase, Charlotte Umugwaneza, Destiney Philoxy, Chantal Kiyobe, Joyeuse Sifa Ineza, Celine De Roy, Sabine Mugeni, Soiffa Wibabara, Hope Butera and Bella Murekatete.
