USA Basketball Sending Seven First-Timers To Women’s World Cup Roster
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USA Basketball Sending Seven First-Timers To Women's World Cup Roster USA Basketball finalized its 12-player roster for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, set to run Sept. 4-13, with seven players set to make their World Cup debuts. Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese and Jackie Young will all appear in the tournament for the first time, joined by veterans Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson.
Stewart will become just the third player in national team history to appear in at least four World Cups, joining Sue Bird, who has five, and Diana Taurasi, who has four. She is the only New York Liberty player on the roster, with teammate Sabrina Ionescu notably left off.
"We'll probably have more than half of our team going to the World Cup," said Stewart, addressing the number of Liberty players expected to compete internationally.
The roster collectively holds 14 Olympic gold medals and nine World Cup titles. USA Basketball women's national team managing director Sue Bird praised the group in a statement.
"This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin," said Bird. "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."
Bird was named the program's first managing director last May and has overseen coaching staff and roster selections heading into the 2028 Olympic cycle, with her choices approved by the USA Basketball Board of Governors. Duke head coach Kara Lawson will lead the team, assisted by Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts and Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White. Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez and Duke assistant Tia Jackson will serve as scout coaches.
Lawson addressed the difficulty of narrowing the roster to 12 players.
"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," said Lawson. "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 a good experience with each of them."
The U.S. enters the tournament as the defending champion, having won its fourth consecutive World Cup gold medal in 2022 with an 83-61 win over China in the final.
The WNBA season will pause from Aug. 31 to Sept. 16 to accommodate the tournament, with the Liberty resuming their regular-season schedule Sept. 18 against the Minnesota Lynx. Stewart addressed the quick turnaround between competitions.
"It's really not that many days of practice," said Stewart. "Going against the best teams in the world is no joke. I think the World Cup is the harder competition between that and the Olympics just from a schedule standpoint. When we get together, we'll be ready."
USA Basketball finalized its 12-player roster for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, set to run Sept. 4-13, with seven players set to make their World Cup debuts. Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese and Jackie Young will all appear in the tournament for the first time, joined by veterans Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson.
Stewart will become just the third player in national team history to appear in at least four World Cups, joining Sue Bird, who has five, and Diana Taurasi, who has four. She is the only New York Liberty player on the roster, with teammate Sabrina Ionescu notably left off.
“We’ll probably have more than half of our team going to the World Cup,” said Stewart, addressing the number of Liberty players expected to compete internationally.
The roster collectively holds 14 Olympic gold medals and nine World Cup titles. USA Basketball women’s national team managing director Sue Bird praised the group in a statement.
“This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin,” said Bird. “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.”
Bird was named the program’s first managing director last May and has overseen coaching staff and roster selections heading into the 2028 Olympic cycle, with her choices approved by the USA Basketball Board of Governors. Duke head coach Kara Lawson will lead the team, assisted by Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts and Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White. Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez and Duke assistant Tia Jackson will serve as scout coaches.
Lawson addressed the difficulty of narrowing the roster to 12 players.
“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,” said Lawson. “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 a good experience with each of them.”
The U.S. enters the tournament as the defending champion, having won its fourth consecutive World Cup gold medal in 2022 with an 83-61 win over China in the final.
The WNBA season will pause from Aug. 31 to Sept. 16 to accommodate the tournament, with the Liberty resuming their regular-season schedule Sept. 18 against the Minnesota Lynx. Stewart addressed the quick turnaround between competitions.
“It’s really not that many days of practice,” said Stewart. “Going against the best teams in the world is no joke. I think the World Cup is the harder competition between that and the Olympics just from a schedule standpoint. When we get together, we’ll be ready.”
