Olivia Miles has been one of the biggest stories of the WNBA season, but her name was noticeably absent when Team USA unveiled its roster for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. Sue Bird, one of the people responsible for building that roster, revealed the reason for the omission directly this week.
What Did Sue Bird Say About Olivia Miles?
Bird, serving as USA Basketball’s women’s national team managing director, announced the 12-player roster for the tournament in Berlin during a Thursday appearance on the “Today” show.
Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese were among the notable first-timers to make the squad, while Miles, despite a standout rookie season with the Minnesota Lynx, was left off. During a press conference, Bird explained the reasoning behind the decision.
“There is no rule that you have to be in a camp,” Bird said. “Being in camps, what that does is allows us to see these players in the USA environment.”
On a call with Sue Bird/USA Basketball.
She talked about Olivia Miles and Miles not being on the 2026 FIBA World Cup roster.
“There is no rule that you have to be in a camp … being in camps… what that does is allows us to see these playersin the USA environment.”
Bird…
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) August 6, 2026
Bird made clear that participation in USA Basketball’s evaluation camps, while not a formal requirement, plays a significant role in how the selection committee builds trust with players under head coach Kara Lawson’s system.
It looks like Miles was not part of that evaluation cycle, which limited the opportunities for the staff to see her operate within the national team setup ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Despite the snub, Bird was clear that the door remains open for Miles going forward, telling reporters she will “undoubtedly” be in the mix for future USA Basketball teams. This is unsurprising considering the impact the Lynx phenom has had this year.
Miles has been one of the most talked about rookies in recent WNBA history, earning three straight Rookie of the Month honors and drawing MVP consideration for a Lynx team fighting for a playoff position.
The final roster includes Aliyah Boston, Bueckers, Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Kelsey Plum, Reese, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Jackie Young, a group Bird described as embracing the responsibility of chasing USA Basketball’s fifth consecutive World Cup title.
For Miles, the message from Bird was clear even in her absence from this year’s roster: her chance with Team USA is likely still to come, just not in Berlin next month.
