A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum Withdraw From FIBA World Cup With Injuries

The United States national women’s basketball team will play the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup without two key players, forward A’ja Wilson and guard Kelsey Plum, following their withdrawal due to health issues. USA Basketball announced the roster changes on Monday as the team prepares in Berlin for its opening group-stage game against China on Friday. Replacement players Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have already arrived in Germany to join the squad.

Wilson, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, had recently been listed on team injury reports with a back condition. She played 30 minutes in the Aces’ final game before the international break on Friday, but an unnamed source close to the situation stated that she has struggled with physical discomfort for an extended period. The national team opted to rest her out of concern that the demanding World Cup schedule could worsen her condition. Earlier in the WNBA season, Wilson missed three games between late June and early July because of an ankle injury. Addressing her physical workload during a podcast interview in late July, Wilson noted, “My body will tell it all.”

Plum’s absence follows a summer impacted by a lower leg injury. She played in 17 games this season and only made five appearances for the Phoenix Mercury after being acquired via trade. Concurrent with the national team announcement on Monday, the Mercury ruled Plum out for the remainder of the WNBA season.

The absence of Wilson removes the tournament MVP from the previous World Cup in 2022 and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Wilson was the top scorer for the American team at both events, averaging 17.2 points per game in 2022 and 18.7 points along with 10.2 rebounds per game in Paris. Plum was also a contributor during the 2024 Olympic campaign, providing key scoring off the bench during the tournament.

Head coach Kara Lawson is leading the senior national team at a major tournament for the first time. The team faces an intense opening schedule in Berlin, playing three games in four days, and could play up to six games in ten days if they reach the final round. Eight members of the 12-player tournament roster—including Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Jackie Young, and substitute Iriafen—previously played under Lawson during a World Cup qualifying event in Puerto Rico in March.

Background

The FIBA Women’s World Cup is the premier quadrennial international basketball tournament for women’s national teams, organized by the International Basketball Federation. The United States enters the competition in Germany seeking its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal. The tournament takes place during a scheduled break in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) season, the leading professional women’s basketball league in North America, where the majority of the US national team roster competes.