Fire Alarm Sends FIBA Women’s World Cup Teams Out of Berlin Hotel

Early Tuesday morning, the calm of a Berlin hotel was shattered when a fire broke out in the underground parking structure next door. The smoke detectors went off at 9:06 a.m. local time, and every team competing in the FIBA Women’s World Cup was ushered out of their rooms in an orderly fashion.

Officials followed the usual safety protocol: players and coaches gathered in the designated assembly area, waited while firefighters assessed the situation, and were allowed back in at 9:27 a.m. after a thorough inspection confirmed the danger was contained to the garage’s garbage room.

“The alarm was activated by a fire in the garbage room of the neighboring parking facility,” FIBA said in a statement. “Police are currently investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Fortunately, the United States squad escaped the drama because they are staying at a different hotel from the bulk of the tournament field. The U.S. roster – featuring stars like Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart and Chelsea Gray – will not miss any action because of the scare.

This isn’t the first time the teams have been jolted out of their rooms. Just two days earlier, a mysterious alarm at around 2 a.m. forced everyone out for about an hour, disrupting sleep and raising nerves ahead of a game later that day. That first alarm, FIBA later explained, was caused by steam from a kitchen cleaning operation, though some reports suggested an emergency button in an elevator had been pressed.

With the knockout stage now underway, the tournament’s schedule remains intact. The games will continue at Max Schmeling Hall and the adjacent arena, where the world’s top women’s basketball teams will battle for the coveted title.

Fans and officials alike are hoping the incident remains an isolated hiccup. The focus, after all, is on the court – on the high‑stakes matchups, the emerging talents, and the drama that only a World Cup can deliver.