Kelsey Plum and A'ja Wilson will sit out of the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, USA Basketball confirmed Sunday. The two withdrew for health reasons, leaving Team USA without two of its most experienced players ahead of the international tournament in Berlin.
Workload, Late-Season Injuries Sideline Kelsey Plum & A'ja Wilson
Plum, 32, is sidelined with a lower leg injury that already ended her WNBA season with playoff-eliminated Phoenix. She played just once since joining the Mercury on August 9th.
Wilson, meanwhile, shouldered a heavier workload after Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith went down with a season-ending knee injury. The 30-year-old has appeared in all but three games this season, averaging 26 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
USA Basketball Adds Mystics Stars to FIBA World Cup 2026 Roster
Still, USA Basketball moved quickly to fill the gaps.
Washington Mystics teammates Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, both 2026 All-Stars, will join the roster for their first major global tournament.
Even without Wilson and Plum, there's plenty of talent in Team USA's FIBA World Cup lineup. Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Angel Reese headline a group chasing a fifth straight World Cup title when play opens September 4th against China.
