Team USA women’s basketball has announced its training camp roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the omission of Caitlin Clark from the promotional graphic has sparked controversy and questions among fans. The roster, revealed Monday, includes notable players such as Brittney Griner, K. Plum, and Dearica Hamby, while the graphic prominently featured Copper, Plum, and Young. This has raised concerns over Clark’s exclusion despite her popularity and previous achievements.
Fans and analysts, including Christine Brennan, a columnist who wrote a book about Clark, have criticized the decision. Brennan highlighted that Clark did not play for the U.S. team during the Olympics, which has been a source of frustration for many supporters. Clark has a gold medal from junior competitions before turning pro and was drafted by the Indiana Fever, but she missed significant time in her second WNBA season due to injuries.
USA women’s national team director Sue Bird is set to evaluate players before making the final roster decision for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, which will take place next September. Players like Griner and Hamby were also on the U.S. Olympic team last year, while Jones has FIBA World Cup experience. Boston represented the red, white, and blue in previous junior and senior events.
Betts, Brink, Bueckers, Burton, Citron, Iriafen, Jackson, Reese, and Watkins will be making their senior camp debuts. The team has emphasized the competitive nature of the tournament, with the final roster decisions expected to be finalized shortly. However, the absence of Clark from both the roster list and the promotional graphic has led to a wave of speculation and concern about the selection process.
Critics argue that the decision might impact the team’s performance, as Clark is widely regarded as one of the top talents in the sport. The controversy has sparked discussions about the criteria used for selecting players for major international competitions, with some suggesting that the team’s strategy may have overlooked key contributors to future success.