The 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup is one day away.
On Friday, Sept. 4, USA Basketball will compete in Berlin, Germany. The World Cup roster is headlined by new faces like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reeseand bolstered by veteran players such as Breanna Stewart and Chelsea Gray. Team USA will be without mainstays A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum
, who won't play due to health reasons, but is expected to remain competitive."What I love about this team, it's got experience ― internationally, WNBA, you name it ― it also has youth. You need both those energies," Sue Bird, USA Basketball women’s national team managing director, said. "You need some old heads. You need some young'uns. It kind of brings out the best on both sides, but for the young players,
especially, they'll get really good experience."
The United States looks to secure its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal as the tournament rolls on through Sept. 13. USA TODAY Sports' Studio IX is ranking the full Team USA roster according to how important each player might be to the country's title hopes.
Here's USA TODAY's ranking* of the 12 Team USA players on the FIBA World Cup roster:
*While each player is a starter in the WNBA, the level of competition on the international stage may affect their production. This ranking is intended to take that into account and is not a determination of a player's individual talent.
12. Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
Sonia Citron was not on the 2026 World Cup Qualifying roster ― she withdrew before the competition ― and is making her national team debut. Still, she has experience that could be helpful. The 6-foot-1 guard was on the 2021 USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team, where she averaged 13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists en route to a gold medal. Citron will all but certainly come off the bench for the senior national team, but she can use her smooth release, impeccable footwork and excellent defense to make the most of her time on the floor.
11. Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics
Asking Kiki Iriafen to step in to solely fill the gap left by A'ja Wilson is an unfair ask, but the 6-foot-3 forward can hold her own when given the chance. She also should have help from Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese and Aliyah Boston that will ease the pressure. Iriafen got off to a solid start as a member of the World Cup Qualifying Team, averaging 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in five games. The Washington forward owned her minutes and should do the same in Germany, leaning into her efficiency and willingness to defend anyone.
10. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard likely won't start in the USA's rotation, but she will be a nice utility player who can take advantage of her minutes. The 6-foot-2 guard is a volume scorer who can get red hot from beyond the arc or make shots from the midrange and around the cup to torment defenses. Howard is also a fantastic defender who leans into her great closing speed and thrives in one-on-one matchups. The Atlanta guard averaged 10 points per game in five FIBA contests this year, making her a prime candidate to see the floor early and often.
9. Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
Angel Reese played on the World Cup Qualifying Team in March and helped the United States to a 5-0 record while averaging 6.8 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds. In the coming days, her undeniable motor and elite ability to secure rebounds on both ends of the floor should be on display, as well as her knack for exploiting opposing teams when getting downhill and being a chaos agent defensively.
8. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Paige Bueckers made her Team USA debut with the World Cup qualifying team in March, averaging 10.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. She is likely to come off the bench, serving as an additional point guard and a shifty shooting guard who is hard to stop when hot from midrange. Having Bueckers on the senior national team roster could prove crucial. In addition to her offensive prowess, she's a willing defender who frustrates opposing guards.
7. Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
Kahleah Copper is one of the players to keep an eye on in Germany. She was a needed boost off the bench at the 2024 Summer Olympics, averaging 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists. In the team's gold medal game win over France (67-66), she had 12 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter. This year, during the qualifying tournament, the Mercury guard averaged a team-high 12.8 points during four matchups, and her speed, quickness and superb change of direction could help against a stacked World Cup field.
6. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
It remains to be seen if Chelsea Gray will get the nod as the starting point guard. However, her experience on the senior national team, including the Tokyo and Paris Olympics in addition to the 2022 World Cup squad, lends credibility to her chances. She has impeccable vision, and few players can share the ball and find scorers like Gray. She had meager production in five FIBA games earlier this year at 5.6 points and 4.8 assists per game, but when paired with her Aces teammate, Jackie Young, Gray's offensive ceiling elevates.
5. Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
Aliyah Boston should start at the center position without A'ja Wilson on the floor, making her perhaps one of the most critical pieces on the Team USA roster. Boston is productive on both ends of the floor, leaning into her agility and quickness in the paint and handling one-on-one matchups with ease. The center was not on the 2026 World Cup Qualifying roster, as she withdrew before the competition, but she was on the 2024 Olympic Qualifying team roster, where she averaged 5.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in nearly 23 minutes.
4. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
It's still unclear if Caitlin Clark will start over Chelsea Gray, given the veteran's experience with Team USA. However, it's hard to argue against her potential impact for this year's World Cup title run. In March, Clark was named MVP at the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament. She averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists across five games. Her elite court vision and ability to score at will should come in handy, and with Aliyah Boston potentially sliding into the starting lineup in place of A'ja Wilson, Clark should excel at executing a two-man game that can manipulate defense and produce quick points.
3. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
Jackie Young has never played on a World Cup team for the United States, but she has immeasurable experience. The Las Vegas guard was part of the 2024 U.S. national team and averaged 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and tied the team high in steals (1.5 per game). Young started four of the group's six games at the Paris Games. Offensively, Young is a talented three-level scorer and an underrated facilitator, which should significantly boost the guard group. Defensively, the veteran is a disruption savant who can guard any position and crash the boards.
2. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Like Jackie Young, Napheesa Collier has never played in a World Cup for the women's senior national team. She was a member of the 2015 USA Basketball U19 World Championship team that won gold. Collier also has Olympic experience. The Minnesota forward has two gold medals from the 2020 Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She started all six games during the group's run in Paris, averaging 6.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.3 minutes. Collier is coming back to form after injuries to both ankles last season, but she's one of the best two-way players on Team USA.
1. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
With no A'ja Wilson in Berlin, Breanna Stewart immediately becomes the most important player. She's the most experienced in terms of World Cup play, with three gold medals under her belt. As a member of the 2022 World Cup team, she averaged 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks and was named to the tournament All-Star Five. The veteran forward is also the player Team USA will likely lean on for rim protection, clutch baskets and to anchor the defense. For reference, Stewart averaged 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks at the Paris Olympics.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Which Team USA star is most vital to FIBA World Cup hopes? Full roster ranked
