Team USA women’s basketball has released its training camp roster for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup, which will be held next September. The announcement was made on Monday, listing the athletes who will participate in the training camp scheduled for Dec. 12-14 in Durham, North Carolina. The roster includes several of the most prominent players in the sport, such as Lauren Betts, Aliyah Boston, Cameron Brink, and Brittney Griner.
However, the promotional graphic accompanying the announcement sparked controversy. The graphic highlighted three players—Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young—who were part of the U.S. team that won gold at the Paris Olympics. Caitlin Clark, one of the most popular players in women’s basketball, was notably absent from the graphic. This exclusion has led to widespread questions and criticism from fans and analysts, including prominent columnist Christine Brennan, who authored a book about Clark. Brennan raised concerns about whether the decision to exclude Clark from the graphic was a reflection of the team’s strategy or a misstep in communication.
Prior to the training camp announcement, Clark had not played for the U.S. team during the Olympics, which further fueled fan discontent. She has a gold medal from junior competitions but missed significant playing time during the Olympics, which some fans believe could have impacted her visibility and selection for the World Cup. Additionally, Clark recently missed a considerable amount of time in her second WNBA season due to injuries, which may have influenced the team’s consideration for her role in the training camp.
USA women’s national team director Sue Bird is set to evaluate the players before finalizing the roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The training camp will serve as an opportunity for players to showcase their skills and compete for spots on the final team. Other notable players on the roster include Dearica Hamby, JuJu Watkins, and Kiki Iriafen, who will be making their senior camp debuts, while players like Brionna Jones and Angel Reese have prior experience in international competitions.
The exclusion of Clark from the graphic has raised questions about the team’s approach to player visibility and selection, as well as whether her absence during the Olympics and injuries in the WNBA have affected her chances of being part of the World Cup squad. As the team moves forward with preparations for the upcoming competition, the focus remains on identifying the best-qualified athletes to represent the U.S. at the global level.