With more than two months to go before the WNBA season begins, assuming a CBA is finalised, Indiana Fever fans already have something to look forward to as Caitlin Clark and a few of her teammates return to action earlier than anticipated.

USA Women’s Basketball unveiled its roster for the March 2026 World Cup qualifiers, confirming that Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, who attended last month’s training camp at Duke, have been selected. Having already debuted for the senior team and even been the youngest player at the 2024 Olympic qualifiers in Antwerp, Boston is no stranger to the stage. Clark, on the other hand, is preparing for her long-awaited debut.

And there is more good news for Fever supporters, as Clark and Boston are not the only Indiana players set to compete. Chloe Bibby and Damiris Dantas have also been selected to represent their national teams, Australia and Brazil, respectively, in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament.

Bibby and Dantas have each played valuable roles for the Fever. Bibby put up 3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in nine games last season, whereas Dantas averaged 4.6 points, 2.4 boards, and 0.7 assists in 38 games. Now, fans get to see both showcase their skills internationally.

Team USA secured World Cup qualification by topping Dantas’ Brazil in the 2025 AmeriCup final, while Bibby’s Australia earned its place by winning its first Women’s Asia Cup against Japan. Despite already qualifying, both teams will take part in the tournament, giving fans a preview of what to expect in March.

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Fans will also get to witness Caitlin Clark’s long-awaited return to official game action after an eight-month absence. Injuries limited her to 13 appearances during her sophomore campaign, but she still delivered averages of 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. She will be hoping this return helps her build match fitness if the league tips off as scheduled in May.

But fans may need to brace themselves for a harsh reality.

Caitlin Clark’s Role in the Qualifiers: Starter or Not?

We have no doubt that in the coming years, Caitlin Clark will establish herself as the face of USA women’s basketball. She is destined to be at the center of everything they accomplish, but in March, there is a strong chance we see her coming off the bench.

A glance at the roster makes you realise just how tough it would be for Clark to break into the starting lineup. Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young bring championship pedigree from the two WNBA titles they won together with the Aces, and along with Kahleah Copper, they were key pieces of the gold-medal team at the 2024 Paris Olympics as well.

Coach Kara Lawson will likely lean on that experience when the pressure rises, and she also has to balance minutes for Paige Bueckers, who is thriving at the moment. Considering Clark is coming back from a long absence, a bench role is the realistic scenario, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

No one wants to see the Fever superstar risk injury while playing international basketball, so it makes far more sense to build her match fitness gradually rather than overload her with minutes early and risk another setback.