USA Basketball announced the 12-player roster and coaching staff that will represent the United States at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from March 11–17.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers earned a spot on the roster, while Wings head coach Jose Fernandez was named a scout coach for the event.
The United States has already secured its place in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin after winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, but will compete in the six-team round-robin tournament as part of the qualifying window held across multiple international sites.
Paige Bueckers Among First-Time Senior Competitors
Bueckers is one of five players set to make her senior national team competitive debut, joined by Sonia Citron, Caitlin Clark, Kiki Iriafen and Angel Reese.
The roster also includes significant Olympic and World Cup experience. Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young are 2024 Olympic gold medalists. Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard captured 3×3 bronze at the 2024 Paris Games.
Aliyah Boston returns to senior competition for the first time since the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium. Boston, Howard and Reese have competed in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, while Boston, Bueckers, Citron, Clark and Howard previously won gold in junior-level international play.
Several players bring additional 3×3 experience. Plum (2020 gold) and Young (2020 gold) earned Olympic medals in the format, while Howard and Hamby also competed in 3×3 at the Paris Games. Boston and Bueckers represented the United States in 3×3 junior competitions earlier in their careers.
Three-time Olympic and World champion Breanna Stewart will join the team in Miami for a pre-competition training camp scheduled for March 7–8.
Coaching Staff and Tournament Structure
Kara Lawson, head coach of Duke University and the 2025–28 USA Basketball Women’s National Team head coach, will lead the team in San Juan. She will be assisted by Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury) and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever).
Lawson will return to Duke to prepare for the NCAA Tournament before the qualifying event concludes, with one of the assistant coaches serving as acting head coach for the remaining games.
Fernandez and Duke’s Tia Jackson will serve as scout coaches. Fernandez, entering his first season as head coach of the Wings, previously won two gold medals with USA Basketball’s Women’s Junior National Team program. Jackson also served in a scout coach capacity at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
The United States opens play March 11 against Senegal, followed by matchups with Puerto Rico (March 12), Italy (March 14), New Zealand (March 15) and Spain (March 17).
Historically, the USA holds decisive results against several of its opponents. The Americans defeated Senegal 101-39 at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament and beat Puerto Rico 106-42 at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The matchup with Italy will mark the first meeting since a 92-37 USA win at the 1994 Goodwill Games. The United States last faced New Zealand in a 96-60 victory at the 2008 Olympic Games and defeated Spain 101-72 at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
In addition to San Juan, qualifying tournaments will be held in Istanbul; Lyon-Villeurbanne, France; and Wuhan, China.
USA Basketball Women’s National Team managing director Sue Bird selected the roster and will continue evaluating players ahead of final team selection for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, scheduled for Sept. 4–13 in Berlin.
The United States will seek its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal and 12th overall.
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