2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Team USA Fan Guide

The WNBA season's two-week break for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup has begun! As numerous players from the W travel to Berlin, Germany to represent their country in the World Cup, we will not only continue to be showered with spectacular matchups, but also with a new level of competition as players look to put it all on the line for the pride of their country.

Team USA Player Availability

The team with the most WNBA players is none other than Team USA. Through each World Cup and even Olympics, Team USA never fails to rise as the favorite to win each tournament. However, as we approach the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, Team USA has already faced a few challenges and may even face more down the road. Early yesterday morning (August 31), the official accounts for USA Basketball took to social media to announce that neither A'ja Wilson or Kelsey Plum will be able to compete in the 2026 World Cup for "health reasons." Shortly after, Plum also took to her personal Instagram account stating, "... I did everything I could to be back on the court but just ran out of time...." Plum continued saying that she had made the difficult decision to be sidelined for not only the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season, but also for the 2026 World Cup due to an ongoing lower left leg injury. Alongside Plum, Wilson will also no longer compete in the 2026 World Cup, but for rest as she has recently experienced back soreness, impacting her the last several games in the W. Although Wilson is yet to miss a WNBA game this season for back soreness, she has been listed on the injury report as "Questionable" several times prior to the Las Vegas Aces' recent matchups. That said, her minutes never decreased as Wilson would go on to finish the final stretch of games prior to the World Cup break playing 30 minutes vs. the Toronto Tempo. Because of Plum's and Wilson's inabilities to compete in the World Cup, USA Basketball also announced that Washington Mystics stars Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen will fill their spots on the roster.

The full Team USA roster as of today, Tuesday, September 1, is as followed listing the players by name, their position, their current WNBA team, and years/seasons they have played in the W.

Team USA Roster (as of Tuesday, September 1)

Player | Position | Current WNBA Team | WNBA Seasons

  • Aliyah Boston | Forward | Indiana Fever | 4
  • Paige Bueckers | Guard | Dallas Wings | 2
  • Caitlin Clark | Guard | Indiana Fever | 3
  • Sonia Citron | Guard | Washington Mystics | 2
  • Napheesa Collier | Forward | Minnesota Lynx | 8
  • Kahleah Copper | Guard/Forward | Phoenix Mercury | 11
  • Chelsea Gray | Guard | Las Vegas Aces | 12
  • Rhyne Howard | Guard | Atlanta Dream | 5
  • Kiki Iriafen | Forward | Washington Mystics | 2
  • Angel Reese | Forward | Atlanta Dream | 3
  • Breanna Stewart | Forward | New York Liberty | 10
  • Jackie Young | Guard | Las Vegas Aces | 8

Schedule Details

With the group stage kicking off in Berlin, Germany as early as 5:30 a.m. ET, some busy days of basketball lie ahead. The United States will compete in three Group Stage matchups (bolded) that will determine whether they move on to the Knockout Stage and if so, where they stand/who they will face. The order in which I listed the details of each game in the schedule is in the following formatting order: time (ET), matchup, channels available on. 

Group Stage

Friday, September 4:

  • 5:30 a.m. | Japan vs. Mali | HBO Max 

  • 5:30 a.m. | Australia vs. Puerto Rico | HBO Max

  • 8 a.m. | United States vs. China | TNT, truTV, HBO Max

  • 8:30 a.m. | Korea vs. Nigeria | HBO Max

  • 11:30 a.m. | Belgium vs. Turkey | HBO Max

  • 11:30 a.m. | Spain vs. Germany | truTV, HBO Max

  • 2:15 p.m. | Czechia vs. Italy | HBO Max

  • 2:45 p.m. | Hungary vs. France | truTV, HBO Max 

Saturday, September 5: 

  • 5:30 a.m. | Mali vs. Spain | HBO Max

  • 8:15 a.m. | Nigeria vs. Hungary | HBO Max

  • 11:45 a.m. | Germany vs. Japan | HBO Max

  • 2:30 p.m. | France vs. Korea | HBO Max

Sunday, September 6:

  • 5:30 a.m. | Turkey vs. Australia | HBO Max

  • 8:30 a.m. | China vs. Czechia | HBO Max

  • 11:30 a.m. | Puerto Rico vs. Belgium | truTV, HBO Max

  • 2:30 p.m. | Italy vs. United States | TNT, HBO Max

Monday, September 7:

  • 5:30 a.m. | Belgium vs. Australia | HBO Max


  • 5:30 a.m. | Puerto Rico vs. Turkey | HBO Max

  • 8:15 a.m. | Nigeria vs. France | truTV, HBO Max

  • 8:30 a.m. | Hungary vs. Korea | HBO Max

  • 11:30 a.m. | Japan vs. Spain | truTV, HBO Max

  • 11:45 a.m. | Germany vs. Mali | HBO Max
  • 2:30 p.m. | United States vs. Czechia | TNT, truTV, HBO Max
  • 2:45 p.m. | Italy vs. China | HBO Max

Knockout Stages

Tuesday, September 8 - Wednesday, September 9:

  • Dates (Tuesday or Wednesday), times, and matchups for Qualification to Quarterfinals (4 games) are TBD. | truTV and/or HBO Max

Thursday, September 10:

  • Times and matchups for Quarterfinals (4 games) are TBD. | TNT and/or truTV, and HBO Max

Saturday, September 12:

  • Times and matchups for Semifinals (2 games) are TBD. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max

Sunday, September 13:

  • 10:15 a.m. | Third-Place Game | truTV, HBO Max
  • 1:45 p.m. | Gold Medal Game | TNT, truTV, HBO Max

Final Thoughts

Following the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup break, the WNBA regular season will resume for eight more days, with the postseason to follow. As teams look to refine their rosters and make their last few adjustments during the World Cup break, it will be a race to the finish as teams in the playoffs look to find momentum heading into the playoffs, while teams who did not clinch a spot look for answers as they head into the offseason. Happy watching and go Team USA!

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