Though Team USA has already punched its ticket to the FIBA World Cup, the upcoming qualifiers are anything but a formality. For head coach Kara Lawson, this is the first crucial test for a roster blending legendary veterans with the sport’s most exciting young stars.

Which players are in the Full 12-Player Roster?

Who are The Veterans from the World Cup and Olympic Champions in the Team USA roster?

Team USA, other than having some fresh faces in their lineup, also has the services of those who have won the World Cup for their country. Keep in mind, this would also be the first time Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese will be making their senior team debuts.

Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper is one such talent. The 31-year-old has a World Cup gold and an Olympic pedigree that puts her a cut above the rest. She thrives as a slasher who can break down defenses and ignite fast breaks. Team USA can utilize her ability and explosiveness to attack gaps. Her elite defending skills will also be a great supplement to the team.

Floor general Chelsea Gray needs no special introduction either. It’s not for nothing that she is called the “Point Gawd” of the game. The two-time world champion does not crumble under pressure, and that is a mindset you need to infuse in the squad. The younger players can learn immensely by watching her play. From her no-look passing, pull-up jumpers, and turnaround shots, she is a delight to have on the team, and Team USA will hugely benefit from her services.

Kelsey Plum is another character who fits in seamlessly with the team dynamics. Always on the move and high on activity after coming in fresh from Unrivaled, the two-time World Cup champion always puts in the work with her deep shooting range, stretching defenses, and setting up openings that her teammates can then exploit. Plum can be a handful when the game gets into critical situations.

Jackie Young can again easily transition between attack and defense, and she did that the last time she played in her national colors. Locking down opposing guards or hitting shots when you need them, she has pretty much got you covered. Team USA would love to use her balance of defense and scoring abilities that would pretty much hold the team together.

Who are The Rising Stars in Team USA Fighting for a Berlin Spot?

Well, we have already seen the veterans; now it’s time to shift our attention to the newbies who would bring fresh blood to Team USA.

First up is none other than Rae Burrell, who is a replacement for Sonia Citron. She created her own niche with the Los Angeles Sparks. Her sublime perimeter shooting and her ability to stretch defense using her reach and power make her the perfect player who has a two-way depth about her play. Not a household name yet when it comes to USA basketball, her success at the qualifiers will surely make her a contender for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Just like Burrell, Iriafen’s energy and physicality could be the X-factor against international opponents. Her size, along with her rebounding and interior scoring, shows her presence in the paint that stretches defenses.

The coaching staff has taken an eclectic mix of players that includes athletes with proven track records on the national circuit to upcoming future stars, where they will assess every move before they make their final pick for the World Cup.

Who is the Coaching Staff for Team USA in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament?

Kara Lawson’s resume doesn’t need validation. The Duke Blue Devils coach has done it all her career, right from starting as an assistant coach in the NBA with the Boston Celtics to being a successful coach at Duke.

Lawson’s collaboration with Team USA started in 1998 when she won a bronze medal at the USA World Youth Games. She won a gold medal at the 2001 World University Games, 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, and 2008 Olympic Games.

Recently, she served as the head coach of the 2025 USA Women’s AmeriCup Team and led the team to a 7-0 record and a gold medal. Lawson also led the inaugural U.S. Olympic 3×3 Women’s Basketball Team to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Go back two years to 2024, she was an assistant coach for the Women’s National Team at the Olympics in Paris and won a gold medal.

Accompanying her would be assistant coaches Nate Tibbets (Phoenix Mercury), Stephanie White (Indiana Fever) and Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), who are all decorated in their individual careers.

Nakase is a Coach of the Year Award Winner who led the team to championships in 2022 and 2023. Then you have Tibbetts, who became the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in 2023, with his extensive experience coaching some NBA powerhouses like the Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers, along with the NBA G League.

Stephanie White will be another important figure because of her strong understanding of Caitlin Clark’s style of play as the Fever coach. So the team is in capable hands and looks sorted before the games.

The team’s practice videos show that the morale is quite high, and no tension should cause concern. Now the results will tell the story.