There’s a quiet buzz around Durham, North Carolina, as Team USA players begin arriving for Kara Lawson’s first training camp at the helm. It’s a big moment, especially with 10 debutants in the mix. One of them is Paige Bueckers, and she couldn’t be more excited to learn from the coaches she’ll be working with this week.

For Bueckers, the experience gets even better. One of her biggest idols, Sue Bird, is overseeing the entire camp as Team USA’s managing director, evaluating all 18 players, including newcomers Sonia Citron, Lauren Betts, and JuJu Watkins. And the training camp won’t be short on coaches either. Kara Lawson will have a star-studded group beside her, with WNBA coaches Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, and Stephanie White guiding players as court coaches throughout the weekend.

Learning from coaches like that is always huge, and Paige is genuinely excited for it. According to reporter Geoff Magliocchetti on X, Paige said, “Huge fans of all them. I think they’re really bright basketball minds…they’re very prepared, very disciplined…they have a lot of insight…I can’t wait to learn from them,”

These three coaches represent some of the best minds in the W today. Coach Nakase earned Coach of the Year with the Valkyries, Coach Tibbetts led the Mercury all the way to the Finals, and Coach White pulled off the unthinkable by taking a team with five players out for the season to within a single win of the Finals. Paige couldn’t ask for better teachers.

The purpose of this training camp is for Sue Bird to pick the final 12 players for the 2026 FIBA World Cup. Paige, the only UConn player in the group, finds herself in a unique spot. Her fate quite literally rests with Sue Bird, the other UConn representative in the camp. But none of that matters to Paige right now. From December 12–14, she’s locked in on learning as much as she can from these coaches and getting better.

Paige Bueckers hasn’t worn a Team USA jersey since 2019, when she starred at the Under-19 World Cup. She took home MVP honors and led the U.S. to gold, putting up 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and a tournament-leading 5.4 assists. In North Carolina, she’ll be back alongside her U19 teammates Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Cameron Brink, each making their senior team debut as well.

“To be back here representing my country … this is every kid’s dream,” Bueckers said during a Zoom press conference Thursday. “To be able to do that at the highest level on the national team and to get that invite, it meant a whole lot … Growing up watching all the legends before me play and represent the country in a great way and bring back that gold, it’s something you aspire to be.”

This won’t be Paige Bueckers’ first time learning from Kara Lawson. Lawson coached her in 3-on-3 at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, guiding a group that featured Bueckers, Aliyah Boston, and Chicago Sky guard Hailey Van Lith to a gold medal. Lawson, who is also the head coach of Duke, faced Bueckers in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. So watching them reconnect feels long overdue.

That said, Paige shared how genuinely excited she is to compete with the other 17 players for a place on the final roster.

Paige Bueckers on Attending Camp With Former Teammates and Veterans

Paige won’t just be reuniting with her old USA teammates. She’ll also be sharing the floor with veterans like Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Kahleah Copper, and Brionna Jones. And for her, that’s what makes these camps feel so special.

“We’ve been competing against each other for so long these past couple years, whether it be college or last year in the W,” Bueckers said about facing her former Team USA teammates. “… I think we all really bring the best out of each other. I think that’s what USA Basketball does. It’s just so many amazing athletes and women coming together for one common goal, and I think that’s always brought the best out of each other. So, it’s really fun to be able to share the court and be on the same side for a change.”

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The 2026 Women’s World Cup will be held from September 4–13 in Germany, with Team USA looking to defend the gold they won in 2024 after a dramatic 67–66 win over France. Their road begins in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they’ll play qualifiers against Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and Senegal.

Do you think Paige makes the final cut? Keep in mind, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson chose not to attend camp, and they’ll still be in the mix for a roster spot. So earning a place on this team might be tougher than helping the Wings get a positive record in the W. Drop your thoughts in the comments below.