A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will no longer play in this year’s FIBA World Cup due to health reasons, USA Basketball announced today.
Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP and three-time Olympic gold medalist, has been nursing a nagging ankle injury that she has been managing throughout the WNBA season. Plum, who just finished her first season with the Los Angeles Sparks, has also been dealing with a persistent foot issue. Both players are expected to be ready for the start of the WNBA training camp in 2027 but will not be available for the World Cup.
Sonia Citron (Notre Dame) and Kiki Iriafen (Stanford) have been named to the roster in their place. Both players competed for the 2026 USA U23 National Team earlier this summer and earned their first senior national team call-ups with this selection. Citron is a two-time All-ACC performer, while Iriafen was a key player for Stanford last season.
The USA Women’s National Team is set to begin its World Cup campaign in Sydney, Australia, on September 25.
