Topic overview
In brief
- USA Basketball announced its roster for the 2026 FIBA Basketball World Cup, featuring 12 WNBA stars.
- Sabrina Ionescu expressed mixed feelings about being left off the roster, acknowledging her injury history and the talent pool.
- Despite her disappointment, Ionescu understands the competitive nature of the selection process.
Summary
In early August 2026, USA Basketball announced its roster for the upcoming 2026 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which includes 12 prominent WNBA players. Among the selected athletes are four-time MVP A'ja Wilson, All-Stars Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, and Kelsey Plum. The announcement led to discussions about notable omissions, including New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, who was not included in the roster despite her impressive career. Ionescu, now in her seventh season, has been a key player for the Liberty, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game this season. She has played in 20 of the Liberty's 32 games, with 12 remaining before the playoffs. Although she has been a four-time All-Star in her career, she was not selected for this year's All-Star game, which further fueled the conversation around her exclusion from the national team. Ionescu was asked about her feelings regarding the decision and responded that she was "kind of, but not really" surprised. She acknowledged the depth of talent in the league and recognized her own struggles with injuries as a factor in the decision. Ionescu expressed disappointment, stating that participating in the World Cup was something she had hoped for, but she also conveyed a sense of maturity in understanding the competitive nature of the selection process. Many of her teammates from the 2024 Summer Olympics, where she won a gold medal, are on the World Cup roster, including Napheesa Collier, who recently returned to the Minnesota Lynx. Despite Ionescu's absence, her Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart will represent both the Liberty and Team USA in the tournament. The roster also includes players from other teams, such as Angel Reese from the Atlanta Dream, Kahleah Copper from the Phoenix Mercury, and Jackie Young from the Las Vegas Aces. The competitive landscape of the WNBA and the national team selection process highlights the challenges faced by athletes in securing a spot on such prestigious rosters.