A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum Withdraw from FIBA Women's World Cup for Health Reasons

USA Basketball confirmed on Monday that two of its biggest stars, A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, will not compete at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin due to health reasons. The announcement came just days before the tournament tips off on Friday.

Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces center and four-time WNBA MVP frontrunner, has been the most dominant player in the league this season, averaging 26.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks through 37 games. The 30-year-old was the MVP of both the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the United States claimed gold. Her absence leaves a significant void in the American frontcourt.

Plum, acquired by the Phoenix Mercury in a mid-season trade from the Los Angeles Sparks, has battled injuries throughout the 2026 campaign. She averaged 21.5 points and 5.4 assists in 17 appearances before the Mercury shut her down for the remainder of the year.

Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen will fill the two open roster spots. Both are two-time WNBA All-Stars who played pivotal roles in clinching Washington's first playoff berth since 2023. Their inclusion was seen as inevitable — both were expected to represent the United States at a major international tournament sooner rather than later.

Despite the losses, Team USA remains the overwhelming favourite in Berlin. The 12-player squad is headlined by Paige Bueckers, Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark. The United States opens its World Cup campaign on Friday against China and will chase a fifth consecutive title at the tournament, which runs from September 4 to 13.

Sources

• https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25494866-aja-wilson-kelsey-plum-out-fiba-world-cup-health-reasons-usas-updated-roster-revealed