The U.S. women’s national basketball team roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup was announced on August 5, with the tournament set to take place from September 4 to 13 in Berlin, Germany. The team is aiming to secure its fifth consecutive World Cup title and continues its dominance in international competition.
The 12-player roster features a blend of experienced veterans and rising stars. Notable returning Olympians include four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, two-time MVP Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, and Kelsey Plum. Stewart will be making her fourth World Cup appearance, joining Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi as the only players to have participated in at least four tournaments for the U.S. team. Plum and Collier have both battled injuries this season but remain part of the squad.
Joining the team for their World Cup debuts are Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, and Aliyah Boston. Clark, Bueckers, and Reese have impressed in international play earlier this year, helping the U.S. win a qualifier tournament in Puerto Rico in March, where Clark earned MVP honors. Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles, although noted for her strong WNBA season, was not included on the roster as she has yet to participate in USA Basketball camps.
Kara Lawson, the head coach of Duke women’s basketball, will lead the team in Berlin. This tournament marks the first major international competition where the roster was selected solely by USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird, rather than by committee. Bird emphasized the depth of talent available and the difficulty in making final selections. She personally reached out to players who were not selected, including New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, a key figure on recent U.S. teams and gold medalist at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.
Ionescu’s omission was notable given her past contributions, though Bird did not specify whether injury or other factors influenced the decision. She described the selection process as one focused on forming a cohesive unit capable of winning gold under Lawson’s leadership and stressed that those not selected had already earned the honor of being part of USA Basketball.
Other notable absences from the World Cup roster include Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd, Brittney Griner, and Alyssa Thomas, all of whom contributed to the U.S. Olympic gold medal in Paris. Thomas and rookie Olivia Miles have also not participated in recent national team camps.
The Americans will face China, Italy, and the Czech Republic in the group stage. The WNBA is scheduled to pause for nearly three weeks to accommodate player participation in the tournament. The final game is slated for September 13, with the WNBA season resuming shortly thereafter.
Lawson’s coaching staff includes a combination of current WNBA head coaches and assistants, underscoring the program’s emphasis on continuity and experience. The World Cup will be broadcast on TNT Sports, as Team USA seeks to extend its legacy as a powerhouse in women’s basketball.