Bueckers, Clark, Reese Set for U.S. Senior Debut at World Cup
Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese will make their U.S. senior national team debuts at the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament. This competition takes place from March 11-17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The squad was announced by USA Basketball and features a mix of seasoned players and rookies.
Key Players in the Qualifying Tournament
The roster includes the last two WNBA Rookie of the Year winners, Bueckers of the Dallas Wings and Clark of the Indiana Fever. Reese, playing for the Chicago Sky, is part of the 2024 WNBA draft class alongside Clark. Other notable new players include Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, both rookies from the Washington Mystics.
Past Achievements and Upcoming Challenges
The United States has already secured a spot in the FIBA World Cup after winning the 2025 AmeriCup. The World Cup will be held in Berlin from September 4-13, where the U.S. team aims to extend its record of 11 titles, including four consecutive championships.
- Qualifying Tournament Schedule:
- March 11: vs. Senegal
- March 12: vs. Puerto Rico
- March 14: vs. Italy
- March 15: vs. New Zealand
- March 17: vs. Spain
Returning Talent and New Faces
The 12-player roster also includes Aliyah Boston, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Boston, along with Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, contributed to the U.S. team’s success at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
These players won gold in the 5-on-5 event, while Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard won bronze in 3×3 competition. The majority of players not currently under rookie contracts are free agents pending a new collective bargaining agreement for the upcoming WNBA season starting in May.
Coaching Staff and Preparation
Three-time Olympic and World Cup champion Breanna Stewart, now with the New York Liberty, will participate in a precompetition training camp in Miami on March 7-8. Duke University women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson, also the U.S. senior national team coach, will lead the squad in Puerto Rico. She will be assisted by WNBA coaches Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, and Stephanie White.
Lawson is expected to return to Duke for the NCAA tournament shortly after the qualifying event.
Following the qualifying tournament, Sue Bird, the National Team managing director, will continue to assess player performances in preparation for the final World Cup roster announcement later this year.
