Team USA Gets Bad News on A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum for FIBA Women’s World Cup

Team USA, once a dominant force heading into the FIBA Women’s World Cup, received disappointing news about two of its top stars, A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, who will no longer compete due to health issues. Plum, a Phoenix Mercury star, will also miss the remainder of the season as she recovers from a lower leg injury, making her withdrawal a wise decision to avoid further damage. Wilson’s team, the Las Vegas Aces, is in postseason contention, leading to her decision to rest and prepare for upcoming playoffs.

Wilson, who has been having a standout season, was reportedly making a smart move by resting from her WNBA workload before the WNBA playoffs. The Aces, currently third in the WNBA standings, will resume their regular season on September 17 at the Seattle Storm. Replacements for Wilson and Plum have been named: Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen from the Washington Mystics will fill their roster spots at the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

Iriafen, who participated in U.S. camps for the team, will make her national team debut in Germany at the tournament in Germany.

Despite losing two All-Stars, Team USA still appears to be a powerhouse. Other stars on the roster include Paige Bueckers from the Dallas Wings, Angel Reese from the Atlanta Dream, Napheesa Collier from the Minnesota Lynx, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston from the Indiana Fever. Team USA will open play against China on Friday, where they face considerable size in the frontcourt, including Zhang Ziyu at 7 feet 3 inches.