NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers will make their World Cup debuts as members of the U.S. women’s national team next month.
The trio will try to help the U.S. win its fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup title. The young stars will be joined by 2024 Olympic gold medalists A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, and Kelsey Plum.
“It’s always good when you compete for a gold medal, it’s a big honor,” said Wilson, a four-time WNBA MVP. “It’s something I don’t take lightly. Time to go there and have some fun and also win.”
Rhyne Howard and Aliyah Boston also will be making their World Cup debuts to round out the team.
“I’m so excited to announce the 2026 USA Basketball Women’s National Team,” USA Basketball national team managing director Sue Bird said. “This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin. Wearing a USA jersey is a privilege, and I know these 12 players will embrace that responsibility as we go after another gold medal. I can’t wait to see what this team accomplishes together.”
Copper, a North Philly native and Prep Charter alumna, is among five returners from the 2022 World Cup squad that won gold. Copper also recently was a WNBA All-Star for the fifth time. She’s currently averaging 21 points for the Phoenix Mercury, good for fifth in the WNBA.
Wilson leads the league in scoring (26.6 points per game) and blocks (2.0 per game) and is third in rebounds with 9.6 per game. Clark is fourth in scoring (21.5 points per game) and second in assists (8.0 per game).
This is the first time that USA Basketball has had a managing director choose the team; in the past, it was a committee. Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson, an assistant on the 2022 team, will coach this year’s squad.
Stewart is the third player in USA Basketball history to appear in four World Cup tournaments, joining Bird, who played in five; and Diana Taurasi, who also played in four.
The Americans will face China, Italy, and the Czech Republic in pool play at the World Cup, which will be held Sept. 4-13 in Berlin. The WNBA will take a nearly three-week break in its season to accommodate the event.
Clark, Bueckers, and Reese helped the Americans win a World Cup qualifying tournament in March in Puerto Rico.
Sabrina Ionescu has been a big part of the U.S. roster the last few years but was left off this season’s team.
Bird said she called many of the players who didn’t make the team this time, including Ionescu.
“I think we can all agree the hardest part, which is a problem I would never trade, is that we have so much talent,” Bird said. “The beauty of that is it means almost all players are wanting to be on this team, willing to be on this team. It is a sacrifice. It is a time commitment.”
Alyssa Thomas helped the U.S. win gold at the Paris Olympics but hasn’t taken part in any USA Basketball camps since. Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles also hadn’t taken part in any USA camps, either.
“Tremendous player. So much fun to watch,” Bird said of Miles, who is the frontrunner for the WNBA Rookie of the Year. “It’s been amazing watching her grow in this league. … She’s played with USA Basketball before. She will undoubtedly be in the mix for teams in the future.”
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