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The Black Ferns are six-time champions and boast some of the games biggest superstars, but in their way in York this weekend is a Spain team brimming with belief and the kind of confidence that a young side desperate to prove themselves has in spades.

New Zealand won a thrilling final against England at Rugby World Cup 2021, but they start all over again now, and Las Leonas will be out to show that things have changed in their years since the Black Ferns won their most recent title.

Kick-off: 17:30 BST, Sunday, 24 August 

Venue: York Community Stadium, York

From where to go before kick-off, to must-visit local attractions, check out Ellie Kildunne’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Guide to York.

How to watch: Grab some of the few remaining tickets here.

Or check out our global guide to the TV options in your region.

New Zealand team

New Zealand key player: This is a team filled with superstars, so dealer’s choice. But we’ll single out Jorja Miller (pictured). The openside flanker is a complete pest at the breakdown, constantly stealing the ball and more than happy to run with it after she’s done so. Despite being only 21 years old and surrounded by some of the game’s all-time greats, many have identified Miller as the rising star who will have the biggest breakthrough campaign over these next few weeks.

Spain team

Spain key player: Claudia Pena is a stand-out talent for Spain as well as for her club Harlequins, where she won Players’ Player of the Season in her debut season last term – not bad when you consider World Rugby Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne is in the same team as her. The Spaniard is a versatile back normally seen using her quick feet and lightning speed out wide Spain, but for Sunday’s opener she has been selected in the number 13 jersey.

What they said

New Zealand head coach Allan Bunting:
“We want to start strong. Obviously, it has been a bit since we played a test match. There will be people trying a little bit too hard and but it’s more about mindset.

“There’s going to be a bit of excitement, and I don’t expect perfection. It’s more around their intent and courage to have a crack. That’s the most important thing to me.”

New Zealand captain Alana Bremner:
“We’re ready to go. It’s been a while since we played a test match, so there’s a lot of excitement within the team. Training’s been awesome. It’s the first game in a while so you could expect the little bit of rust to come out. And I think we’re just looking to start the tournament well with excitement, with energy, and that’s what the Black Ferns always bring. So I think it’s going to be some awesome rugby.”

Spain head coach Juan González:
“It was a very exciting week, finally being in England to play in a Rugby World Cup. We’ve been working towards this for so long, since the beginning of the season after the previous World Cup. We’re ending the week feeling very good, clear about what we want, and taking on the challenge of playing against the reigning world champions, with great enthusiasm and eagerness to take to the field and give it our all.

“The goal is to put up a fight against New Zealand, to be able to face the challenge. We’re definitely going to give it our all, give them a tough game and try to work on small goals that will give us a good feeling and small victories within the game itself.”

Spain captain Laura Delgado:
“Without a doubt; rugby in Spain is growing, but we want to do our part even more so that girls can try rugby, for them to know that rugby is a sport they can play in Spain and that it not only benefits them as athletes, but also as people.

“It’s meant everything. I’ve never dedicated so many hours and my life to something; it’s the love of my life. Honestly, I think there’s no better setting to be able to close it out and continue enjoying it for the remaining three weeks.”

MUNICH (Germany) – Giannis Antetokounmpo is a nightmare for any opposing team as a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 2021 NBA champion. The big man has become the face of the Greece national team, and also has many FIBA EuroBasket 2025 stars praising his game.

FIBA asked a series of stars who will be leading their national teams in a week about Antetokounmpo, and the responses about the “Greek Freak” ranged from playing at a different level for Greece to an inspiring work ethic and sacrifice for his body to being a great leader and warrior.

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He’s different when playing for Greece

Santi Aldama experienced Antetokounmpo in both the NBA and the national team – including facing off last summer in the 2024 Olympics. And the Spanish star said Giannis is different when he has Hellas on his chest.

“He always talks about how he plays hard every single day. And seeing an MVP-level player play as hard as he does every day … and him having the pride to play for his country every summer you can see it’s different when he plays for his country. And he takes a lot of pride in playing for his country,” Aldama said.

He sacrifices his body for the team

Antetokounmpo’s efforts also impress Italian veteran Nicolo Melli, who appreciates how much the NBA star sacrifices his body.

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“To bring this kind of energy every game means you are ready to sacrifice your body for the team.”

“Giannis is for sure an incredible player. First of all for the physical impact that he has on the game. He’s very consistent about it. And even though he is one of the best players in the world, he is very humble for how he plays. He always brings it. He plays with technique for sure but to bring this kind of energy every game means you are ready to sacrifice your body for the team,” Melli said.

The Italian also had a fond memory of Giannis at the last EuroBasket – namely how Italy coach Gianmarco Pozzecco ran up to Antetokounmpo in the catacombs of the arena in Berlin and jumped on him following Italy’s Round of 16 win over Serbia.

“We beat Serbia and Pozzecco jumps on him. You don’t want to think about if he injured Giannis. That would have been a problem in the millions. But that is one of the main images I have about Giannis,” Melli recalled.

Still shows inspiring work ethic

Antetokounmpo’s Greek teammate, 35-year-old Kostas Sloukas values just how strong the star’s work ethic is.

“He has already achieved many things in his career, but still he is the first guy who comes to the locker room and he’s the last guy to leave the court,” Sloukas said.

France’s 20-year-old rising star Zaccharie Risacher said Antetokounmpo’s work ethic inspires him.

“The way he approaches the game … watching him close up, I kind of have taken that from him. I’m a hard worker and I was raised that way. But being able to see the greats and his approach definitely helps me to be able to keep it. His approach is special. He was inspiring growing up,” said Risacher.

He tries to destroy everybody

While his work ethic may be inspirational, facing Giannis on the court is like a speeding train not going to stop for anybody, according to Spain’s Willy Hernangomez.

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“He tries to destroy everybody in front of him.”

“He tries to destroy everybody in front of him. He plays super hard. He’s an example for other players – the way he plays. His work ethic is really impressive. One of the best,” said Hernangomez, the MVP of the EuroBasket 2022.

Always has tricks in his bag

For Lauri Markkanen, Antetokounmpo is much more than just a physical specimen. The Finland star knows Giannis will always figure out a way to beat you.

“Giannis is really difficult to play one-on-one. You kind of load up on him and try to make him get rid of the ball. But he can do so many things on the floor. You can do your scouting report and try to take something away but I feel like he has some tricks in his bag that makes it really hard to guard,” Markkanen said.

A great leader

Tyler Dorsey has gotten the chance to see Antetokounmpo up close and personal on his own team. And the Greek guard says the NBA superstar is really a great leader – also because of the work he puts in – and someone who makes things easier for his teammates.

“I saw it three years ago (at EuroBasket 2022). The work the best players in the world do. Every single detail you can think about to make him better, he’s doing it. The professionalism that he brings. Everybody is watching him, even our team. And he knows that. He’s a great leader,” Dorsey said.

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“It makes our life easier playing wth him on the floor.”

“Game wise, I love playing with him. He draws the whole team. Five guys are watching him the whole game. We’re pretty much open. It makes our life easier playing with him on the floor.”

A warrior and fighter who never backs down

Put all those elements together, and you can still add the element of a warrior, according to Polish star Mateusz Ponitka, who added: “Giannis is a warrior, he’s a fighter, he never backs down. He has a lot of things that you don’t see often.”

Every second you need to watch him

Furkan Korkmaz meanwhile says opposing teams must keep track of Antetokounmpo at all times. And the scary part, the Türkiye star says, is that Giannis can still improve.

“Whenever he is on the court, every second, you need to watch him. What he is doing. Because every second he can do something different. He plays fast and high rhythm basketball and he can run the court so well. And he’s still improving his game,” Korkmaz said.

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“He still has great potential. He can still be much better than he is right now.”

“He still has a long way to go even though he has proven himself. He still has great potential. He can still be much better than he is right now.”

No mistakes allowed

Bogdan Bogdanovic’s message about Giannis was simple: don’t make mistakes.

“I feel like when you play him, he’s just so athletic and you can’t make mistakes against him because he punishes you all the time,” the Serbian star said.

“His ability to play defense as well. It’s not easy to go around him, there are no easy shots with him. And when he is running in transition. These three things are pretty much unstoppable.”

“He’s just a freak”

Finland star shooter Sasu Salin went with Antetokounmpo’s nickname when describing what makes him special.

“Like they call him: He’s the ‘Greek Freak’. Athletic, he can go to the rim and dunk from the free throw line easily. He’s just a freak.”

Two-time NBA MVP – enough said

When it comes down to it, all you need to know is one thing according to Italian Simone Fontecchio.

“Not like I have to say much. Everybody knows what kind of player he is. He’s a two-time MVP in the NBA, which is the toughest league in the world. That speaks for itself.”

FIBA