The roster is set for the U.S. women's national basketball team ahead of its next major tournament.
On NBC's Today Show on Thursday morning, Team USA managing director Sue Bird unveiled the 12-player unit that will head to Berlin, Germany, in less than a month to compete in the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup.
Headlining that roster — which will be coached by Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson — are veterans like four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson and two-time MVP Breanna Stewart, as well as rising stars in women's basketball like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.
"This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin," Bird said in a statement. "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."
Team USA has won nine of the last 12 FIBA World Cups, including four straight. Wilson was the MVP of the 2022 tournament held in Sydney, Australia, after averaging 17.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. This will be the first time Wilson plays for Team USA since Lawson took over as head coach last September.
The nod for Stewart marks her fourth World Cup appearance, making her just one of three players to play in that many for Team USA. Bird played in five and Diana Taurasi played in four.
For the young trio of Clark, Bueckers and Reese, this will be the second time they've played for the senior U.S. national team. They featured for Lawson at the World Cup qualifying tournament in March in Puerto Rico. Clark was named MVP after averaging 11.6 points and a tournament-best 6.4 assists per game while leading the Americans to a 5-0 record.
Here's the full roster for Team USA at the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany:
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
- A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
- Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
- Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
- Kelsey Plum, Phoenix Mercury
- Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
- Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
- Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
- Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
- Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
- Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
Team USA begins group stage play at the World Cup on Sept. 4, opening with a game against China. The Americans will then play Italy on Sept. 6 and the Czech Republic on Sept. 7 before the knockout rounds begin. Team USA is 8-0 all-time against China, 1-1 against Italy and 2-0 against Czechia.
The WNBA season will take a pause while the World Cup is played. The gold medal game is set for Sept. 13 and WNBA games will resume on Sept. 17.
Lawson will be the coach of the team through the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The last time the Summer Games were held in Los Angeles, Lawson's college coach — the late and legendary Pat Summitt of Tennessee — led the Americans to their first gold medal.
Beginning with the 1996 games, Team USA has won eight consecutive Olympic gold medals. Lawson played on the team that won gold in 2008 and was an assistant coach on the 2024 gold medal-winning team coached by Cheryl Reeve. Lawson was also the head coach of the Team USA 3x3 squad that captured the gold medal at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo — a team that featured Plum, who led the tournament in scoring.
“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," Lawson said in a statement. "I think that's what makes it even more special is the relationships that you have, and having worked with them in different capacities. I know what they're capable of, and I know that this is a group that's ready for the challenges that are ahead."
Assisting Lawson on the bench in Germany will be a trio of WNBA head coaches in Stephanie White of the Indiana Fever, Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries and Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury. Additionally, Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez and Duke assistant Tia Jackson will be on Lawson's staff as scouts.
The FIBA World Cup will be broadcast by TNT Sports and can be streamed on HBO Max.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson headline Team USA roster for FIBA World Cup
