Team USA entered the 2026 FIBA World Cup with a clear mission: win a fifth consecutive gold medal – and A’ja Wilson was expected to be at the center of that pursuit. But just days before the tournament began, the Las Vegas Aces star withdrew from the competition, citing health reasons. Her decision quickly became a topic of debate, especially after some questioned why the specific concern behind her exit had not been revealed in the official release.

Yet while the noise around the four-time and reigning WNBA MVP’s decision has continued, the Las Vegas Aces have remained focused on something much more important. With the reigning champions preparing for another title run, head coach Becky Hammon has made it clear that the four-time MVP’s well-being remains the priority.

“She’s needed some time, obviously,” the coach said post-team practice on Wednesday in an interview with Callie Fin of USA Today. “I still think she’s dealing with some back stuff. Some days it’s a little sorer than others.”

One of the more controversial suggestions for the reason behind Wilson’s last-minute withdrawal from the World Cup squad, just five days before the Sept. 4 opener, came from former ESPN host Linda Cohn, who speculated that Wilson may have chosen to sit out because she did not want to be overshadowed by Caitlin Clark and her growing stardom.

Cohn received significant backlash for the suggestion, which pushed her to make her stance clear.

“I was just asking questions… I ask questions to make people think,” Cohn said. “That’s what we do here on the show. I went right to the source, USA Basketball. It cited health reasons; no details given. I was curious as to why no details were given. And you know what? I wasn’t the only one.”

But as criticism continued to mount, Hammon made sure to push back against those questioning the Aces star’s choice.

“A’ja has every right to do what she feels is best health-wise,” she added. “And the other thing is, the men do this all the time. Can you name me any of the men’s world championship rosters right now? Can you name me any person on there? What I’m saying is, LeBron (James) and those guys – if this was a man making this decision, there would be nothing to say. And that’s my problem.”

The exact severity of A’ja Wilson’s health concern remains undisclosed, but her name did appear on the Aces’ injury report twice last month, with ESPN reporting it as a back issue. And with the World Cup demanding a packed schedule on top of the physical toll of an already long WNBA season, the Aces had little reason to push their star back onto the court before she was ready.

So far, Team USA has shown that Wilson’s absence has not derailed its pursuit of another title.

The Americans finished the group stage with a 3-0 record and are now set to lock horns with Hungary in the quarterfinals. Their perfect record, however, did not come without a scare. Team USA was pushed to the limit by Italy before the Americans responded the very next day with a dominant 105-64 victory over Czechia.

But now, with the knockout stage underway, the room for error has disappeared, and every game carries considerably more weight. FIBA’s power rankings have USA and France sitting as the top two teams in the tournament, making a potential meeting between the two sides in the final one of the most anticipated possibilities.

Les Bleus have already shown just how dangerous they can be by setting a FIBA World Cup record with 22 three-pointers in their 111-56 win over Nigeria. Add the motivation of avenging the 2024 Olympic loss, and a potential final could demand everything from Team USA.

If that matchup does come to pass, the Americans may feel A’ja Wilson’s absence more than ever, with her experience and two-way impact potentially becoming decisive on the biggest stage.