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Stars Out: Wilson & Plum Out for FIBA World Cup
31 Aug
Summary
- A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum withdraw from the World Cup for health reasons.
- Washington teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will replace them.
- The US team will rely more on young players like Caitlin Clark.
USA Basketball announced Monday that A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will miss the FIBA Women's World Cup. Both players are withdrawing for health reasons, with Wilson needing rest after a demanding season and Plum still recovering from a calf injury. They will be replaced by Washington teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron.
Iriafen and Citron have participated in U.S. national team camps previously. Iriafen was part of the World Cup qualifier team in Puerto Rico, while Citron is set to make her national team debut in Germany after an earlier injury sidelined her. The U.S. team, aiming to extend its World Cup winning streak since 2006, will now showcase a youthful core.
With veteran stars absent, the squad will feature first-time World Cup participants such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers. They will be joined by experienced Olympic medalists like Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The team opens its campaign against China on Friday, facing a formidable Chinese front line.
