Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen Substitute A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum on USA Basketball Women’s World Cup Roster

USA Basketball added Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen to its Women’s National Team roster on Monday, changing A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, who withdrew from the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup for well being causes forward of the event’s opening September 4 in Berlin.

Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces heart and 2022 World Cup MVP, is coping with a again difficulty. Plum, a guard now with the Phoenix Mercury, suffered a decrease leg harm that may sideline her for the remainder of the WNBA season. Both had been two-time World Cup gold medalists.

Citron and Iriafen are Washington Mystics teammates drafted back-to-back within the first spherical of the 2025 WNBA Draft — Citron third total out of Notre Dame, Iriafen fourth total. Both are WNBA All-Stars who helped the Mystics attain their first playoff berth since 2023. Berlin marks the senior nationwide group debut for every.

Iriafen carries qualifying-tournament expertise into her debut, having averaged 5.4 factors and 4.2 rebounds in 5 video games when the United States went 5-0 on the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March. Citron, a flexible wing, received gold with USA Basketball on the 2021 U19 World Cup.

The United States opens group play in opposition to China on September 4, then faces Italy on September 6 and Czechia on September 7. The event runs by means of September 13. The Americans are pursuing their fifth consecutive World Cup title and twelfth total; they haven’t misplaced a World Cup recreation since 2006.

The up to date 12-player roster retains important depth regardless of the 2 withdrawals. Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper and Jackie Young — all World Cup or Olympic gold medalists — anchor the group alongside seven gamers making their World Cup debut: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Aliyah Boston, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Citron and Iriafen.

Head coach Kara Lawson, who led the nationwide group to gold on the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in her first 12 months on the helm, described what this system brings to main worldwide competitors.

“That’s what you learn about USA Basketball, it really is everybody together,” Lawson informed USA Basketball. “That’s what gets it done at a major competition. This is a World Cup. It’s incredibly difficult to win a World Cup. … To win a World Cup is a big deal, and it’s really difficult to do.”

Reese, a three-time WNBA All-Star who led the qualifying event in rebounding and is making her first World Cup look, stated making the World Cup roster was amongst her greatest objectives for the season.

“It’s an honor. To be one of 12, to be one of the best players in the U.S. and to be able to represent your country means a lot to me,” Reese informed USA Basketball.

Reese additionally spoke to what she hopes to perform in Berlin.

“I want to walk away from the game as a winner. Having a gold medal under my belt is something that I’ve always wanted,” she stated.

Howard, who contributed to a bronze medal with the USA on the Paris 2024 Olympics competing within the 3×3 format, stated the chemistry the group constructed throughout March’s qualifying run in Puerto Rico will carry over to Germany.

“I think we did a good job of performing in a short amount of time and [were] able to build chemistry,” Howard informed USA Basketball. “Already having that is going to be better for us.”