Group USA will likely be flying to Berlin for the 2026 FIBA Ladies’s Basketball World Cup with out two of the most important WNBA stars right this moment. On Monday, USA Basketball announced that Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson “are not capable of compete in Berlin as a result of well being causes.”
The 32-year-old Plum, who was traded by the Los Angeles Sparks to the Phoenix Mercury in August, has been bothered by lower-body accidents within the 2026 WNBA season, limiting her to only 17 video games up to now. She can also be done for the remainder of the 2026 campaign after solely enjoying 5 video games for the reason that commerce.
The 30-year-old Wilson, then again, has been largely wholesome, with the four-time WNBA Most Priceless Participant showing in 37 video games. Maybe Wilson opted out of nationwide crew duties to make use of the lengthy break within the WNBA schedule to relaxation up for the looming playoffs.
In the meantime, Group USA will get youthful with Plum and Wilson changed by the Washington Mystics duo of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, who’ve each been added to the roster rather than the vets. Citron,22, and Iriafen, 23, are massive the explanation why the Mystics are headed to the WNBA Playoffs for the primary time since 2023.
Group USA will begin group play on Sept. 4 towards China, then tackle Italy and Czechia on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, respectively.
