USA Basketball replaces injured A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum for World Cup
A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will miss the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup after USA Basketball announced their injuries and named replacements.
USA Basketball announced that A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Kelsey Plum of the Phoenix Mercury will sit out the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup due to injuries. Wilson, a four-time MVP, has been a consistent presence for the Aces this season, posting strong statistics, but will forego the international competition. Plum's calf injury has curtailed her contributions since joining the Mercury, reducing her scoring output.
The federation named Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics as their replacements on the roster. Team USA aims to capture a fifth consecutive World Cup title when the event kicks off in early September.
Why it matters
The absences of two top U.S. players could affect Team USA's chances at defending its World Cup title.
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