Team USA released its roster and schedule for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, and although most of the women were expected to be on the roster, there were a few moves (or non-moves) that drew questions.
Although the likes of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese will be playing for Team USA, it came as a surprise to many that Team USA will be without Las Vegas Aces’ star A’Ja Wilson.
The WNBA World Reacts to Aces’ Star A’Ja Wilson’s Absence from Team USA
Wilson, the number one overall pick of the 2018 draft, is having another outstanding season, averaging 26.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals in 32.0 minutes per game.
Wilson is shooting 52.3% from the field and 39.8% from three. Wilson is a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and four-time MVP.
Simply put, she is one of, if not the, best player in the WNBA right now, so it’s clear why her absence has drawn so many questions.
Another mainstay, Kelsey Plum of the Phoenix Mercury, also won’t be playing due to injury. Team USA head coach Kara Lawson gave her reaction to the news.
“Both of them [Kelsey Plum included] obviously have been great players for us, and I’ll miss being around them, but ultimately, we’ve kind of moved on…” Lawson said. “We don’t have time to be worried about who’s not here. We’ve got to really focus on ourselves.”
That’s the only kind of mindset that Lawson can have at this time. Of course, with an incredible roster still miles more talented and deeper than any other country, it’s probably easy to get over a couple of key players missing the tournament.
The full quote from Kara Lawson of A’Ja Wilson & Kelsey Plum’s late injury withdrawing from USA’s FIBA Women’s World Cup team.
“I didn’t have any conversation with A’Ja. That was more with more with Birdie (Sue Bird).”
🎥 @TWDTV1https://t.co/WOOnIqzlca pic.twitter.com/nSndh1Alob
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) September 1, 2026
Lawson addressed several issues but said she had not spoken with A’ja Wilson about her decision not to play in the World Cup. Sue Bird apparently handled that.
“I didn’t have any conversation with A’ja (Wilson),” Lawson said.
Just finished availability with Team USA head coach Kara Lawson.
Lawson addressed multiple things, but mentioned that she did not have a conversation with A’ja Wilson about not playing in the World Cup. Sue Bird apparently handled that.
“I didn’t have any conversation with A’ja…
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) September 1, 2026
Wilson certainly isn’t required to play in the tournament, but not having a conversation with Lawson prior to the decision becoming public is definitely going to strike some the wrong way. The CDS Sports Podcast weighed in and had nothing kind to say about Wilson’s decision.
“Like I said, A’ja Wilson is garbage,” they wrote on X. “Not even having a conversation with the coach is trash behavior. What a scumbag. She should never play for Team US again. She’s a dinosaur & fake ‘star’ anyway. She’s Angel Reese with a better whistle.”
Like I said, A’ja Wilson is garbage. Not even having a conversation with the coach is trash behavior. What a scumbag. She should never play for Team US again. She’s a dinosaur & fake ‘star’ anyway. She’s Angel Reese with a better whistle. https://t.co/Fi2Tebruo7
— CDS Sports Podcast (@cdssportspod) September 1, 2026
Obviously, they may have gone a little far, but you can see the anger is there. Coach Anderson thinks Lawson is upset with Wilson’s choice.
They wrote: “Damn! Kara Lawson seems upset about A’ja Wilson quitting on her team so late!”
Damn! Kara Lawson seems upset about A’ja Wilson quitting on her team so late! https://t.co/eVPEUDuJCJ
— X coach anderson X (@coachandere6xa) September 1, 2026
Whether it’s quitting on the team is debatable, but you can see why Lawson may be upset. Leena points out that no one really knows why Wilson isn’t playing.
So is Aja sick or injured? I’m so confused on how nobody from Team USA knows what’s going on with her
— leeana (@beachbitchdewey) September 1, 2026
“So is Aja sick or injured? I’m so confused on how nobody from Team USA knows what’s going on with her?” they asked. It’s an interesting question, and the uncertainty will only lead to more questions and speculation.
Shraddha thinks Wilson should have been more ‘professional.’ “That sounds bad,” they said. “A’ja was not professional about it at all.”
That sounds bad. A’ja was not professional about it at all
— Shraddha (@Shraddhan6uk) September 1, 2026
All in all, this does not seem like it was handled well on Wilson’s part, and that’s only going to add fuel to the fan’s fire.
