The FIBA World Cup begins later this week in Berlin and is the biggest international basketball competition before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have been called up to replace Wilson and Plum on the 12-player U.S. roster, with both players set to make their senior global championship debuts.
Wilson's absence is a significant setback for the defending champions. The Las Vegas Aces star is the reigning MVP of the WNBA, WNBA Finals, Olympics and the 2022 World Cup. She featured for 30 minutes in the Aces' most recent game last Friday, making the news of her withdrawal particularly surprising.
Plum, meanwhile, will miss the remainder of the WNBA season after reportedly suffering a lower leg injury. In a message shared on Instagram, Plum said she had done everything possible to return to the court but had simply run out of time.
Wilson has represented the United States at the past two Olympic Games and the last two World Cups, while Plum made her global championship debut at the 2018 World Cup. Breanna Stewart, the Tokyo Olympic MVP, is now the only player on the 2026 World Cup roster with a longer history on the national team.
Despite the absence of Wilson and Plum, the U.S. squad remains packed with talent and experience. The roster includes Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalists Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, as well as Rhyne Howard, who won an Olympic bronze medal in 3x3 basketball.
Several rising stars are also preparing for their first senior global championship appearances, including Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
The United States will begin its World Cup campaign on Friday against China in a repeat of the 2022 World Cup final, which the Americans won 83-61.
Team USA enters the tournament with an extraordinary international record, having won 66 consecutive games across Olympic and World Cup competition since its last defeat to Russia in the 2006 World Cup semifinals.
At the Paris Olympics, the United States extended its dominance by winning a record eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in a team sport.
The team will also be led by head coach Kara Lawson, who took over the role last year from Cheryl Reeve.
