The United States women’s basketball team has begun its defense of the FIBA World Cup title in Berlin, Germany, with a roster featuring several new players. The team announced on Monday, August 31, 2026, that A’ja Wilson and guard Kelsey Plum would miss the tournament. Newcomers Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were added to the roster as the Americans seek their fifth consecutive championship.
The 2026 U.S. squad is led by coach Kara Lawson and includes veteran Breanna Stewart alongside newcomers Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. The international competition follows the 2024 Paris Olympics, where France lost to the U.S. by a single point in the gold medal game, the closest margin in a major tournament since the U.S. lost to Russia in the 2006 World Cup semifinals.
Coach Lawson noted on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, that the depth of talent across international rosters has increased, mentioning France, Australia, Spain, and China as potential podium contenders. The tournament format has also been adjusted to include 16 teams, a structure used from 1990 to 2018. Under this system, teams play three pool games over four days, and the total number of games required to win the title has been reduced from eight to potentially six.
The scale of the event involves 16 national teams competing for a global title that the U.S. has held for nearly two decades. While the Americans have won the last four World Cups, the narrowing margin of victory—exemplified by the one-point Olympic final in 2024—indicates increased parity in women's basketball.
Looking ahead, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis announced a major shift for the 2030 World Cup, which will be held in Japan from November 26 to December 8. By moving the tournament to late autumn, FIBA aims to eliminate the scheduling conflicts that currently force the WNBA to pause its season. For the current tournament, the next steps include the conclusion of pool play, followed by an elimination round where second- and third-place group finishers must play to reach the quarterfinals. WNBA play is set to resume September 17.