BERLIN —Paige Bueckers gets her first World Cup game Friday morning against China. USA Basketball put the Dallas Wings guard on the 2026 Women’s National Team on Aug. 6. Four days before the tournament begins in Berlin, that roster changed twice on Monday.
A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum withdrew for health reasons. USA Basketball added Washington Mystics teammates Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen in their places, and both will make their senior global championship debuts in Germany.
Bueckers was catching up on rest during a rare off day when the call telling her she had made the team came through, and she had forgotten to silence her phone.
“I always believe in divine timing,” Bueckers said. “I woke up, my phone was buzzing, and it was [Briana Gould]. I answered, it was her and Sue [Bird] on the line, and they said that I made the team and they were really excited, looking forward to the World Cup in Berlin.”
Bird, the women’s national team managing director, announced the 12-player roster on Aug. 6. Seven players in that group were set to make World Cup debuts. Citron and Iriafen are both first-time World Cup participants as well.
Bueckers first wore a USA Basketball jersey at the 2017 FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup in Argentina, nine years before her senior World Cup debut.
“It’s a full circle moment,” Bueckers said. “I started when I was at the U16 level. It never gets old, being able to compete with and against the best players in the world, trying to be one of the 12 that represent your country at the highest level.”
Paige Bueckers Enters Berlin Off A Career Season In Dallas
Through 38 games this season, Bueckers is averaging 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. She is shooting 50.6% from the field and 39.7% from three, along with 87.3% at the free-throw line. Those scoring, rebounding, and assist averages are all career highs.
Dallas closed the first portion of its schedule at 24-16, fourth in the Western Conference. The Wings beat the Connecticut Sun 97-71 at College Park Center on Aug. 30 for a fourth straight win. Bueckers finished that game with 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists in 25 minutes. Dallas clinched a playoff berth on Aug. 25, its first since 2023.
Bueckers made her senior national team debut in March at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The United States went 5-0 there. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Iriafen also played on that team.
Team USA Opens Group D Play Against China
China, Italy, and Czechia make up the rest of Group D with the United States. Finishing first sends a team straight to the quarterfinals. Second and third place go into a qualification round Sept. 8 and 9, while fourth place is eliminated.
The U.S. roster also includes Aliyah Boston, Citron, Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Iriafen, Reese, Breanna Stewart, and Jackie Young.
The Americans have won the last four World Cups and 11 overall. A fifth consecutive title would match the Soviet Union, which won five in a row between 1959 and 1975.
China is first up Friday at 7:15 a.m. CT on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Team USA then faces Italy on Sunday at 1:45 p.m. CT on TNT before closing group play Monday against Czechia at 1:45 p.m. CT on TNT and truTV. Quarterfinal games are set for Sept. 10, followed by the semifinals Sept. 12 and the championship game Sept. 13.
WNBA play picks back up Sept. 17. The Wings return that night at College Park Center against the Los Angeles Sparks.
