USA Basketball announced its 12-player roster for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, featuring a blend of veterans and major tournament newcomers such as Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. The squad, selected by managing director Sue Bird and coached by Kara Lawson, will open group play against China on September 4.
A New Generation Arrives on the Global Stage
USA Basketball’s long-awaited youth movement has officially arrived for the FIBA World Cup in Germany, bringing a fresh wave of talent alongside established legends. The 12-player national team roster features four players set to represent the United States in a major senior international tournament for the first time: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Aliyah Boston.
Photo: tsn.ca
The inclusion of Clark answers lingering questions following her omission from the 2024 Summer Olympics squad, a decision managing director Sue Bird and selectors put firmly in the past after Clark earned MVP honors at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in March where the squad went 5-0.
“I’m so excited to announce the 2026 USA Basketball Women’s National Team, 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.”
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Sue Bird, managing director for the women’s national team
Bird, who assumed her role in May 2025 as the first U.S. women’s managing director, emphasized the intentional balance struck on the final list. According to Bird’s remarks on the selection process, the objective required planning ahead while remaining competitive in the present.
“Two years from now we’ve got the Olympics, you have to kind of always be thinking about the future while in the present, So what I love about this team, it’s got experience — internationally, WNBA, you name it. It also has youth. You need both of those energies.”
The roster combines four 24-year-olds with seasoned multitime gold medalists. A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart headline the group, having combined for six WNBA MVP awards and prior World Cup and Olympic MVP honors. Wilson enters the tournament following a standout performance four years ago where she led the U.S. in points and rebounds en route to the World Cup MVP title.
Photo: sports.yahoo.com
Alongside Wilson and Stewart, the roster retains core gold medalists from the Paris Olympics: Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, alongside Rhyne Howard, who captured an Olympic 3×3 bronze medal in 2024. National team coach Kara Lawson noted the difficulty of trimming the selection down to just 12 athletes given the depth of talent available across the country.
“It’s great to have a team and to have a roster, It’s been a long process to whittle it down to 12 players, and I think that speaks to just the talent we have in our country across the board. These 12 have earned it through their play and their consistency. I couldn’t be more excited about working with each of them, and I’ve had good experience with each of them… I know what they’re capable of, and I know that this is a group that’s ready for the challenges that are ahead.”
Kara Lawson, national team head coach
Both Plum and Collier earned selection despite missing stretches of the WNBA season due to injuries, with Plum returning from lower-leg issues and Collier coming back following two offseason ankle surgeries that delayed her summer debut. Meanwhile, notable absences include Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, and Alyssa Thomas.
Chasing History and Continuing a Dominant Legacy
Team USA heads to Berlin aiming for its 12th World Cup gold medal and its fifth consecutive title in the event. The program carries an extraordinary international win streak, having won its last 66 games in combined Olympic and World Cup play dating back to a defeat against Russia in the 2006 semifinals.
This tournament also marks a transitional milestone for the program. It stands as just the second major international competition for USA Basketball without either Sue Bird or Diana Taurasi on the roster since the year 2000.
Group Stage Schedule and Broadcast Details
The FIBA World Cup runs from September 4 through September 13, coinciding with a league-mandated WNBA break scheduled from August 31 to September 16. The United States will navigate a three-game group stage before advancing to the knockout rounds.
TEAM USA WORLD CUP ROSTER REVEAL! Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson + More
September 4: USA vs. China (a rematch of the 2022 World Cup final)
September 6: USA vs. Italy
September 7: USA vs. Czechia
Fans looking to follow the tournament can watch all U.S. games on TNT and HBO Max, with every matchup of the 36-game tournament streaming live on HBO Max.
