The roster for Team USA's FIBA World Cup 2026 is officially out with some pretty solid names on the list. However, veteran media personality Jason Whitlock believes there could have been some upgrades.

According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, the players on the roster are Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Jackie Young.

While every single player here is a star on their own, Whitlock wanted some other names over the likes of Copper and Gray.

"Kelsey Mitchell, Marina Mabrey, Olivia Miles, Sonia Citron could easily replace Copper and Gray..." Whitlock wrote on X.

The players who will seek the program's fifth straight and overall 12th World Cup gold medal were selected by national team managing director Sue Bird and approved by the USA Basketball board of directors.

However, some of the names Whitlock mentioned definitely deserved to be on the roster, especially Kelsey Mitchell and rookie Olivia Miles.

Mitchell has been having one of her best seasons with the Indiana Fever, recently winning Player of the Month for July, and Whitlock also appreciated that honor on social media.

Mitchell averaged 27.2 points on 49.5% from the field and 46.1% from three over 10 games in July, leading the Fever to an 8-2 record with Clark by her side.

Meanwhile, Miles has all but sealed the title of Rookie of the Year and is one of the frontrunners for this year's MVP award as well.

"As far as Olivia goes, she's played with USA basketball before," Bird said. "She will undoubtedly be in the mix for teams in the future."

Still, Team USA has more than enough firepower to achieve glory once again, with headliners like Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart.

Team USA Has Good Chances of Winning It All Once Again

The 12-player roster is as stacked as it has ever been, headlined by A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who have combined for six WNBA MVP awards and have each won World Cup and Olympic MVP honors.

"The makeup of the roster is pretty straightforward," Bird told reporters over Zoom following the announcement.

"Just wanting to have a good mixture of people with experience, of people with youth — obviously, that sets us up for the future as well, but also a team that complements each other and can go on the court and win gold."

The FIBA World Cup starts in Germany next month, as Team USA, under head coach Kara Lawson, is more than ready to hoop on the biggest international stage, considering the kind of performances we have seen in the WNBA this season.

So, do you think Team USA will win its fifth straight World Cup next month? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy