Team USA may have already secured its position in the FIBA World Cup, but it will still test the competition in this week’s qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The team will play five games in seven days from March 11-17, beginning with Senegal and ending with Spain. The host Puerto Ricans, Italy and New Zealand are also on the agenda. The top four teams in the six-team group will punch their tickets to the World Cup, which is Sept. 4-13 in Berlin. The U.S. qualified after winning the AmeriCup in Chile last summer.
Kara Lawson is coaching the team during the brief window between coaching Duke in the ACC and NCAA tournaments. Called upon to play in San Juan is a mixture of veterans like Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, along with a group of debutants. During this weekend’s training camp, the athletes addressed the media in a conference call.
The familiar faces
Plum is targeting a third World Cup gold medal, after winning in Tenerife in 2018 and Sydney in 2022.
“USA Basketball is always stacked with talent,” Plum said. “I have not had the chance to play with a lot of these players. So, having new faces, I am looking forward to it. The unique thing about the roster is that we have players who are younger, but they have experience at different levels. I am looking forward to compete with them and not against them.”
The 31-year-old Plum scored 19.5 points per game for the Los Angeles Sparks last season.
“You want to be a star in your role,” she continued, “but everyone’s role adapts from game to game. For me, I am coming in with humility, and I am excited. Whatever Coach wants it to be, I am going to be a star in that. My objective of everything is to win. I approach every game the same way because that is what you do when you put on the USA Basketball uniform. You are representing a lot more than yourself.”
Kahleah Copper, like Gray and Plum, won the gold medal at the 2022 World Cup. The 31-year-old forward will prioritize her leadership this go around.
“I just want to continue to lead and show what the standard is,” Copper said. “We have an amazing group, as far as the talent and as far as people. The young ones, you have to let them be them, but still teach them how to continue to conduct themselves and how to approach the game, but not taking away from who they are. They keep you on your toes and keep you fresh.”
Rhyne Howard broke through at the most recent Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Antwerp in 2024. She led the team in scoring with 19.5 points per game, averaging only 16 minutes. Most prolifically, she came off the bench to score 25 in 15 minutes against Senegal. She went on to win the bronze medal at the 3×3 Olympic competition in Paris with Dearica Hamby, who is also on the roster in San Juan.
“Teams are going to target us because of the name on the chest,” Howard said. “Physically and mentally, you are challenged more in threes. So being able to handle that, when it comes down to fives, you know how to approach it.”
Howard continued to say that she believes she has a high Basketball IQ. While she may not need to score 30 points for her team to win, she mentioned she can see plays before they happen and do the little things that are needed.
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The younger generation
Caitlin Clark debuted with the national program in 2017, winning the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship in Buenos Aires. She said not many players who join USA Basketball so early continue on to the highest level.
“There aren’t that many people who get that opportunity on the senior national team,” Clark said. “Getting to play in this World Cup qualifier is a huge honor in itself. These are the teams I watched growing up; all of my favorite players played on these teams. There is still a lot for me to learn, and there are a lot of older players for me to learn from, and other young players making their debut would say the same.”
Angel Reese is viewing the qualifying event as a springboard to her goal of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I think it’s really an honor to play for the U.S.,” Reese said. “It’s a lifelong dream and a big step until 2028. I just want to build relationships with the players who are here its important to me, as well.”
Monique Billings might be alert with her defense on the court, but she was completely caught off guard when she received the invitation.
“I was in prayer when I got the call,” Billings said. “It was not on my 2026 bingo card, but staying grounded and my faith has really helped me with an opportunity like this.”
The 29-year-old Billings last played internationally at the 2017 Under-24 Four Nations Tournament. USA Basketball added her to this roster as a late replacement in addition to Rae Burrell. They are taking the places of Sonia Citron and Aliyah Boston. Burrell, the 25-year-old Tennessee graduate, will be seeing competitive action internationally for the first time in Puerto Rico.
“I always try to play with a chip on my shoulder and prove what I can do as a player and a person,” Burrell said. “I feel like this is the top of the top as far as athletes, and just having this opportunity is still surreal at this point.”
Kiki Iriafen said she was also in shock. The Washington Mystics All-Star forward will wear the national team jersey for the first time.
“I still have a lot of ways to go,” the 22-year-old Iriafen said. “Gratitude allows me to stay present. There are a lot of things to complain about, but this is a blessing to be here.”
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Like Clark, Paige Bueckers broke into USA Basketball as a teenager and will make her long-awaited debut competitively as a senior team player.
“There is a perfect balance here of youth and senior leadership,” Bueckers said. “People are representing their country, so they are playing with passion and fire and joy. I want to soak up this experience for myself because it is a great opportunity to learn.”
In addition to the event in San Juan, three other similar tournaments will tip off simultaneously.
China will host Mali, South Sudan, Brazil, Belgium, and Czechia in Wuhan. Türkiye will host Hungary, Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Japan in Istanbul. Lastly, France will host Colombia, the Philippines, Germany, Nigeria, and the Republic of Korea in Villeurbanne.
Just as the U.S. qualified through the AmeriCup, Nigeria, Australia and Belgium did the same through their respective continental championships and are competing largely for preparation. Plus, the World Cup host — Germany — qualified automatically.
Furthermore, FIBA also recently announced that Turner Sports (TBS, TNT, TruTV) will broadcast not only the World Cup, but the qualifying events in the United States.
“Representation and visibility matters on all levels, no matter what uniform we are in,” Gray added. “Women’s basketball is at an all-time high right now, so the visibility has to match that, as well.”
