USA Basketball Announced the 2026 USA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Team

Today was the day and was exciting to learn who made the cut. USA Basketball announced the 2026 USA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Team. In case you missed the official announcement, no problem, we got you. Here are all the amazing players that made the 2026 USA World Cup Qualifying Roster:

Caitlin Clark
Paige Bueckers
Aliyah Boston
Kelsey Plum
Kahleah Copper
Rhyne Howard
Angel Reese
Jackie Young
Dearica Hamby
Chelsea Gray
Sonia Citron
Kiki Iriafen

After perusing this list you will most likely note that it is a good mix of veterans and youth. Many of these players have won at a high international level including being gold medal Olympians. USA Women’s Basketball noted this fact stating,

“The USA, who have already qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin by winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, bring a mix of veterans and newcomers to the six-team round robin tournament.

The roster features 2024 Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard won the 3×3 bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

Plum is a two-time World Cup champion (2022, 2018), while Copper and Gray each have one World Cup title (2022).

Aliyah Boston, who has represented the USA in many junior and senior competitions, will compete for the USA for the first time since the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium.

Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Caitlin Clark, Kiki Iriafen and Angel Reese will make their senior national team competitive debuts.

Boston, Howard and Reese have competed in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, while Boston, Bueckers, Citron, Clark and Howard own gold medals from various junior competitions.

A number of players also feature 3×3 experience, including Olympic medalists Plum (2020, gold), Young (2020, gold), Howard and Hamby. Boston and Bueckers have also represented USA Basketball in 3×3 junior competitions.”

Very nice this team is obviously very skilled as well as talented. So then, a big congratulations to all of these elite basketball athletes. We know that they will make everyone very proud. Nevertheless, now it is time for some “when and where” information.

USA Basketball Announced the 2026 USA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Team

For starters, where will the USA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Team compete? Well, the Tournament will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from March 11-17. What about their future opponents? Who will the USA play against?

The U.S. opens competition March 11 vs. Senegal, followed by Puerto Rico (March 12), Italy (March 14), New Zealand (March 15) and Spain (March 17). Most recently, the USA Women’s National Team beat Senegal 101-39 at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The USA last defeated Puerto Rico 106-42 at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup.

The USA’s matchup vs. Italy will be their first since a 92-37 victory at the 1994 Goodwill Games. While the meeting with New Zealand will mark the first between the two nations since the Americans’ 96-60 win at the 2008 Olympic Games. The USA topped Spain 101-72 at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games. Therefore, next month should make for a very thrilling tourney of women’s basketball!

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