Team USA Just Lost Two Stars — and Kelsey Plum’s WNBA Season Is Over

Team USA received a major shakeup only days before the FIBA Women’s World Cup. USA Basketball announced Monday that A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will not compete in Germany because of health reasons, removing two Olympic gold medalists from a roster trying to win America’s fifth consecutive World Cup. Washington Mystics stars Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have been added as replacements before Team USA opens against China on September 4.

The bigger long-term concern involves Plum. The Phoenix Mercury guard has been dealing with a calf and lower-leg issue, and the injury will reportedly keep her out for the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season as well. Wilson’s situation is different. The four-time MVP has carried another massive workload for Las Vegas and is stepping away from international competition to rest and prepare for the WNBA postseason.

Team USA still has enormous talent, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. But losing Wilson’s interior dominance and Plum’s shooting this close to the tournament changes the equation. Citron and Iriafen now receive huge opportunities, while the Mercury have to confront an even tougher reality: their postseason push will continue without Plum.