Team USA has finalized its roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, which will take place from Sept. 4-13 in Berlin. The squad includes four players making their major international competition debuts: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and Aliyah Boston. They will join established veterans including A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, among others.
Head coach Kara Lawson will lead the team, supported by assistant coaches Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts and Stephanie White. Lawson emphasized the difficulty of selecting the final 12 players from a deep talent pool, noting that the decision was a challenging process reflecting the strength of American women’s basketball. The WNBA has scheduled a break from Aug. 31 through Sept. 16 to accommodate player participation in the tournament.
Several notable players did not make the final roster, prompting discussion about the selection criteria. Olivia Miles, a rookie standout, was excluded despite being mentioned in some roster projections. USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird acknowledged Miles as a tremendous talent while explaining that the guard rotation was filled by other options, including Kelsey Plum’s return from a leg injury. Similarly, Sabrina Ionescu, a two-time gold medalist who won with Team USA at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Olympics, was not selected. Bird indicated that the team sought a balance of veteran and youth, with Gray and Plum serving as experienced guards alongside younger prospects Clark and Bueckers.
Other notable omissions included Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Mitchell and Natasha Howard. Thomas, despite leading the league in assists, faced competition from generational talents at her position. Mitchell, performing well this season, lacked experience in major international tournaments and previous Team USA training camp participation. Jessica Shepard, having exceptional numbers this season, was unavailable after accepting Slovenian citizenship for international play.
Bird clarified that while training camp experience is valued, it is not a requirement. However, participation in camps and qualifying tournaments provides valuable exposure to the USA Basketball environment and coaching system. The final roster reflects the organization’s prioritization of balancing veteran leadership with emerging talent while building continuity for future competitions.
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