Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins headline Team USA women’s basketball originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
USA Basketball announced an eighteen player roster for its December training camp at Duke University, and the next wave of stars will be in the spotlight. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins and Lauren Betts headline a group of ten players making their senior national team camp debuts as preparations begin for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe camp, scheduled for Dec. 12 through Dec. 14, will bring together accomplished veterans and rising talent. Five members of the 2024 Olympic gold medal team are expected in Durham, including Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. Brionna Jones, a 2022 World Cup champion, also returns along with Dearica Hamby, who claimed a 3x3 bronze medal in Paris.
The debut group includes Betts, Watkins, Cameron Brink, Veronica Burton, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Rickea Jackson in addition to Clark, Reese and Bueckers. Many have already earned international success. Betts, Boston, Burton, Jackson and Reese have played in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, while Clark, Bueckers, Betts, Brink, Citron and Watkins own junior level gold medals. Iriafen will make her first appearance with USA Basketball.
Several invitees also bring 3x3 credentials, including Olympic medalists Plum, Young and Hamby and World Cup champion Brink. Burton, Hamby and Jones are AmeriCup medalists in the format.
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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUSA head coach Kara Lawson will lead the camp. Managing director Sue Bird will oversee evaluations before selecting the roster for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place from Sept. 4 through Sept. 13 in Berlin, where Team USA will pursue a fifth consecutive championship.
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