Team USA revealed its roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Thursday, with Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, and Paige Bueckers headlining the star-studded team.
However, some were left stunned by the absence of Olivia Miles and Kelsey Mitchell in the roster, including NFL legend Dez Bryant.
NFL Legend Dez Bryant Questions Olivia Miles and Kelsey Mitchell’s Absence From Team USA Roster
The exclusion of Miles and Mitchell was the most noteworthy talking point from the Team USA roster, with Managing Director Sue Bird explaining that both players will be in the mix for future rosters.
Bird noted that the Team USA staff has had limited opportunities to assess Miles and also pointed to Mitchell’s lack of experience in the national team set-up. The two players were not called to the Team USA training camp in Phoenix during the NCAA Tournament earlier this year.
However, the WNBA world was still surprised that two of the league’s top talents were not named to the team heading to Germany next month. Bryant also questioned the decision to leave the duo out, claiming they should have been part of the team.
“Olivia Miles and Kelsey Mitchell belong on this team,” Bryant wrote on X.
Miles is enjoying one of the best seasons by a rookie in the WNBA and is leading the charge for the Lynx. The 23-year-old guard is averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. She is the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award and is also firmly in the MVP race.
Mitchell has also established herself as a WNBA MVP candidate with her performances and has been one of the Indiana Fever’s top performers this year.
The 5-foot-8 guard is averaging 24.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game for the Fever this season.
Despite the absence of two of the top performers in the 2026 WNBA season, Team USA will be the heavy favorite to win the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The United States will face China, Italy, and the Czech Republic during the preliminary round. Finishing top of their group would allow Team USA to qualify for the quarterfinals, but finishing second or third would mean playing a knockout play-off to reach the last eight.
The FIBA World Cup will take place from September 4-13, with the WNBA playoffs starting soon after.
