‘We’ve kinda moved on’: USA women’s basketball coach doesn’t ‘have time to be worried about’ A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum

This week, two of the most successful players in the WNBA, Aja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, announced they would not be participating in the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup. Wilson, who has won four WNBA MVP awards, has been dealing with health and fatigue issues, while Plum, a two-time WNBA champion, will miss the entire season due to a lower-leg injury.

USA women's basketball head coach, Kara Lawson, expressed her focus on the players present, stating, "We've kinda moved on... We don't have time to be worried about who's not here. We've got to really focus on ourselves." Lawson acknowledged missing Wilson and Plum but emphasized the need to concentrate on the 12 players available, wishing them both a speedy recovery.

The decision surprised some fans, with one X user questioning why Wilson hadn't informed the coach about her absence. Lawson clarified that she was unaware of Wilson's decision. As a result, Wilson and Plum were replaced by Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron from the Washington Mystics.