Sue Bird has her 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, but she isn’t ready to call it final just yet. With the tournament still weeks away and WNBA players continuing their regular-season schedules, USA Basketball knows injuries could still force a late change before Team USA heads to Berlin.
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“Obviously, I think someone asked earlier, we have a lot of great calls, but we also have to inform players that we’re not selected for this roster. And part of that conversation is just asking that they remain committed in this process with us,” said Briana Gould, Women’s National Team Director, while speaking with reporters on Thursday, Aug. 6, along with Sue Bird.
“We’ve touched on the fact that players are actively playing right now. Sue has named the 12. The goal, the plan is to roll into Berlin with that 12. Gosh forbid something happens and we need to make a change. Then we call someone, obviously, whoever’s been selected by Sue. So that is obviously privately communicated to the athletes as we made the calls about their original team selection.”
Gould’s comments leave the door open for players who narrowly missed the final roster. Bird specifically addressed Olivia Miles during the media session, calling her “a tremendous player” and saying she would “undoubtedly be in the mix moving forward,” even though the current squad remains unchanged unless injuries force a replacement.
The roster features Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young. It blends Olympic champions and former MVPs with seven players preparing for their first Women’s World Cup appearance.
Stewart is set to become just the third American woman to play in at least four FIBA Women’s World Cups, joining Sue Bird (five appearances) and Diana Taurasi (four).
Clark, Boston, Bueckers, Collier, Howard, Reese and Young are all set to make their Women’s World Cup debuts, highlighting the blend of established stars and a new generation entering the senior international stage.
The United States enters Berlin chasing a fifth straight Women’s World Cup title after winning gold in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Lawson Believes This Group Has Earned Its Opportunity
Lawson believes the competition for places ultimately strengthened the roster.
“It’s been a long process to whittle it down to 12 players, and I think that speaks to just the talent we have in our country across the board. These 12 have earned it through their play and their consistency,” Lawson said.
She added that her familiarity with the group gives her confidence heading into Berlin, saying she already knows what each player is capable of and believes they are ready for the challenge ahead.
One of the biggest storylines heading into the tournament will be seeing Clark, Reese and Bueckers make their senior Women’s World Cup debuts alongside veterans such as Wilson, Stewart and Gray, giving Team USA one of its youngest cores in years without sacrificing championship experience.
The experience on the roster is difficult to ignore. Stewart enters her fourth World Cup, Wilson returns as the 2022 tournament MVP, while Gray, Plum and Copper all bring previous World Cup gold-medal experience to complement the team’s younger stars.
Clark also arrives with international momentum after earning MVP honors at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, where she helped lead Team USA into the main event.
While Gould made it clear the expectation is to travel to Berlin with the current 12-player squad, USA Basketball already has replacement procedures in place should injuries arise before the tournament. Under FIBA regulations, roster changes are permitted before the competition begins, provided replacement players meet the federation’s eligibility requirements and receive the necessary approvals.
Team USA opens Group D play against China on Sept. 4 before facing Italy on Sept. 6 and Czechia on Sept. 7 as it begins its bid for a fifth consecutive Women’s World Cup crown.