Team USA women’s basketball has released its training camp roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the exclusion of Caitlin Clark from the promotional graphic has sparked controversy. The list of participants, announced on Monday, includes top-tier players such as Lauren Betts, Aliyah Boston, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueck, Veronica Burton, Sonia Citron, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Dearica Hamby, Kiki Iriafen, Rickea Jackson, Brionna Jones, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, JuJu Watkins, and Jackie Young. The graphic accompanying the announcement highlighted Copper, Plum, and Young, all of whom were part of the Olympic gold medal-winning team in Paris. This led to widespread questions from fans and analysts about why Clark, one of the most prominent figures in women’s basketball, was omitted.
Columnist Christine Brennan, who authored a book on Clark’s career, was among those to voice concerns over the decision. Brennan highlighted the broader context of Clark’s limited participation in the 2024 Olympics, which was a source of disappointment for many supporters. Clark, a standout player in the WNBA and a gold medalist in junior competitions, had been drafted by the Indiana Fever and was expected to play a major role in the Olympic team. However, she did not participate in the team’s Olympic games due to injuries, a fact that has also fueled discussions about the impact of her health on her availability for international competitions.
The U.S. women’s national team director, Sue Bird, will lead the evaluation process for the final roster selection for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, which is slated to take place in September 2026. The camp, scheduled for December 12-14 in Durham, North Carolina, will serve as a critical step in identifying the team for the global competition. While players like Gray, Griner, and Hamby will have prior experience with the Olympic team, many others on the roster, including Betts, Brink, Bueckers, Burton, Citron, Iriafen, Jackson, Reese, and Watkins, will be making their senior camp debuts. The process reflects the high level of competition and the importance of selecting the best talent for the international stage.