Team USA has won all four of the last FIBA World Cups, but it seems like their quest for a fifth consecutive title could be harder than they had expected. Just days before the 2026 FIBA World Cup, Team USA suffered a big blow. Alexa Philippou of ESPN broke the news on Monday that both Las Vegas Aces star and MVP frontrunner A’ja Wilson and Phoenix Mercury star Kelsey Plum had pulled themselves out of the World Cup, citing health.
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The team wasted no time and announced Washington Mystics players Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron as their replacements for Wilson and Plum.
“Breaking: Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson will no longer compete for Team USA at the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup due to health reasons, USA Basketball announced. The Mystics’ Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have been named to the roster in their place,” Philippou wrote on X.
Wilson has been the primary option for the Aces on both ends for the last few seasons. On the other hand, Plum has been dealing with a calf injury that has kept her away from the hardcourt for most of the season, with Plum appearing for only 17 regular-season games so far.
As for Washington’s Kiki Iriafen, playing for her national team is nothing new. She represented Team USA in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament. Iriafen averaged 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in five games.
However, Citron joins the team without having the experience of representing the senior national team at the World Cup. The closest Washington Mystics guard has come to being linked to Team USA was in December last year. She was part of the training camp for the national team for the U19 World Cup. Citron has won gold medals as a member of the USA Basketball U16 National Team and the Team USA Basketball U16 National Team at the U16 World Cup and U19 World Cup.
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Two of the stars pulling their names from the roster is a big blow to the team given their caliber, but that doesn’t take away their status as favorites. Team USA still features elite players like Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Kahleah Copper.
Wilson is among the best players in the world who won three of her four MVP awards in the last four years, and is versatile enough to shine on both ends of the floor. Plum is one of the purest scorers in the league, with an ability to score from any position. Without them, the chasm between Team USA and the second-best team at the World Cup decreased.
FIBA will hold the World Cup in Berlin at Max-Schmeling-Halle and Uber Arena starting Friday, Sep. 4. The US team will be one of the 15 teams participating in the event.