Caitlin Clark headlines the USA Basketball 2026 World Cup roster, a 12-player group that opens group play against China on September 4 in Berlin.
USA Basketball announced the 2026 women's roster for this year's FIBA World Cup, which starts in September in Berlin.
Here is the roster: Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings), Caitlin Clark (Fever), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Kelsey Plum (Mercury), Angel Reese (Dream), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), A’ja Wilson (Aces) and Jackie Young (Aces).
"I'm so excited to announce the 2026 USA Basketball Women's National Team," said USA Basketball Women’s National Team managing director Sue Bird. "This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin. Wearing a USA jersey is a privilege, and I know these 12 players will embrace that responsibility as we go after another gold medal. I can't wait to see what this team accomplishes together."
Copper, Gray, Plum, Stewart and Wilson return to defend their 2022 FIBA World Cup title. Along with Collier and Young, the group will look to win their second major international women’s basketball title in the last three years, having won gold at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Boston, Bueckers, Clark, Collier, Howard, Reese and Young will make their FIBA World Cup debuts and Boston, Bueckers, Clark and Reese will make their first USA appearance at a major international competition (World Cup or Olympic Games).
At the World Cup, USA Women’s National Team head coach Kara Lawson (Duke University) will be assisted by Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), Nate Tibbetts (Mercury) and Stephanie White (Fever). Nakase, Tibbetts and White served on staff for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament and were court coaches at both the December 2025 and April 2026 USA Women’s National Team training camps.
Additionally, Jose Fernandez (Wings) and Tia Jackson (Duke) will serve as scout coaches. Fernandez has extensive experience with USA Basketball, most recently as a scout coach at the 2026 World Cup Qualifying Tournament. He also was an assistant coach for the 2025 USA Women’s U19 and the 2024 Women’s U18 National Teams, which both won gold medals.
"It's great to have a team and to have a roster,” Lawson said. “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. I couldn't be more excited about working with each of them, and I've had good experience with each of them. I think that's what makes it even more special is the relationships that you have, and having worked with them in different capacities. I know what they're capable of, and I know that this is a group that's ready for the challenges that are ahead."
The U.S. open group play against China on September 4, followed by Italy on September 6 and Czechia on September 7.
At the World Cup, the USA are 8-0 all-time vs. China, last defeating the Chinese 83-61 in the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup final. The USA are 1-1 all-time vs. Italy, with this being the first matchup between the two nations since the USA outlasted the Italians 66-64 in 1979.
The USA are 2-0 all-time against Czechia, with the USA most recently notching an 89-69 win in 2010.
The remaining 12 teams are split into three groups. The top team in each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals, to be held September 10, while the other eight advancing nations will move to the play-in round on September 8 and September 9.
The semifinals are set for September 12 and the final will take place on September 13.
