Caitlin Clark has been named to the 12-player US women's national basketball team for next month's FIBA World Cup in Berlin. The Indiana Fever star is one of several young WNBA superstars set to make their World Cup debuts when the tournament runs from September 4 to 13. Fellow debutants Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers were also named to the roster after helping the United States win a World Cup qualifying tournament in March.
The American team will travel to Berlin hoping to secure a fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup title for the United States. During pool play, the Americans will face China, Italy and the Czech Republic. The WNBA will take a nearly three-week break in its season to accommodate the international event.
Rhyne Howard and Aliyah Boston will also make their World Cup debuts, with Kara Lawson coaching the national team. Alongside the debutants, the roster includes Olympic medalists A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper and Kelsey Plum. However, big names Sabrina Ionescu and Alyssa Thomas were left off the selection list.
National Team Roster and Tournament History
USA Basketball national team managing director Sue Bird praised the selected roster in an official statement. "This is an incredibly talented group," Bird said. "Wearing a USA jersey is a privilege, and I know these 12 players will embrace that responsibility as we go after another gold medal. I can't wait to see what this team accomplishes together."
Wilson, a four-time WNBA MVP, expressed her pride in joining the squad. "It's always good when you compete for a gold medal, it's a big honor... it's something I don't take lightly," Wilson said. "Time to go there and have some fun and also win." Stewart becomes the third player in USA Basketball history to appear in four World Cup tournaments, joining Bird, who played in five, and Diana Taurasi, who also played in four.
Court Controversies and Performance Records
The World Cup selection comes after another turbulent period for Clark, who has been at the center of several controversies engulfing the WNBA. The Fever star's treatment by officials and fellow players has come under scrutiny again, especially after Thomas struck Clark in the throat earlier this summer. That incident sparked another wave of controversy over whether the Indiana Fever superstar is afforded enough protection on the court.
Despite the physical play, Clark set a new milestone last month when she became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 40 points and 10 assists in a single game. Her tally of 45 points was also a franchise record.
Clark has been the biggest star in women's basketball since her days at Iowa. USA Basketball came under huge pressure to select the No 1 draft pick for the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, Clark was left off the Paris roster, prompting a fierce debate among critics and commentators, following a similar backlash earlier this year when All-Star voting by her peers ranked the Fever star 11th among WNBA guards.
Locker Room Debate and Transgender Athlete Comments
Clark also faced scrutiny off the court after being branded a "coward" for not defending her Indiana Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham recently sparked nationwide debate after telling ESPN that young girls "shouldn't have to go against biological men" when playing sports.
When reporters asked Clark about her teammate's comments, Clark kept her focus on basketball. "I think, for us, it's not really a discussion we really have in our locker room," Clark said. "I think it's for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions, but our focus is on basketball. That's what we talk about and how we can get wins, and, obviously, we didn't do that tonight."
When a second reporter followed up with a question on the same subject, Clark said, "I just answered for you." Megyn Kelly subsequently called the Fever star a "coward" for not speaking out in support of her teammate.