A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will miss the FIBA World Cup, which starts later this week in Berlin, due to health reasons.
The Olympic gold medalists are replaced on the 12-woman U.S. roster by Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, who are set to make their senior global championship debuts.
The quadrennial World Cup is the biggest international basketball tournament between now and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Wilson is the reigning MVP of the WNBA, WNBA Finals, Olympics and from the last World Cup in 2022. She played 30 minutes in the Las Vegas Aces’ most recent game last Friday.
Plum is out for the rest of the WNBA season with a reported lower leg injury.
“I did everything I could to be back on the court, but just ran out of time,” was posted on Plum’s Instagram.
Wilson played at the last two Olympics and the last two World Cups. Plum also made her global championship debut at the 2018 World Cup.
Breanna Stewart, the Tokyo Olympic MVP, is the only player on the 2026 World Cup roster whose tenure on the national team dates back farther.
The roster also includes 2024 Olympic gold medalists Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Plus Rhyne Howard, an Olympic 3x3 bronze medalist in 2024.
Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese made the team for their global championship debuts.
The U.S. opens World Cup group play on Friday against China in a rematch of the 2022 World Cup final won by the U.S. 83-61.
The U.S. won its last 66 games between Olympic and World Cup play dating to its last defeat in the 2006 Worlds semifinals to Russia.
At the Paris Games, the U.S. broke the Olympic team sport record with an eighth consecutive gold medal.
Last year, Kara Lawson was named head coach, succeeding Cheryl Reeve.
