USA Basketball confirmed Monday that A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will not participate in the FIBA Women's World Cup due to "health reasons." Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have been named as their replacements.
Wilson, the four-time WNBA MVP and a standout player in the recent Paris Olympics and the 2022 World Cup, is reportedly taking time to rest for the WNBA playoffs. Plum has been managing a calf injury throughout the current WNBA season.
Both Citron and Iriafen have participated in previous U.S. national team camps. Iriafen was part of the team that secured a World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico. Citron, who was sidelined due to injury for that tournament, is set to make her national team debut in Germany.
Without Wilson and Plum, the U.S. team will lean more heavily on a younger core, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, who are all slated to make their World Cup debuts. They will join experienced Olympic medalists such as Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Kahleah Copper. Rhyne Howard and Aliyah Boston are also set to make their World Cup debuts.
The U.S. team has won every World Cup since finishing with bronze in 2006. In that tournament, Lisa Leslie withdrew at the last minute, contributing to the U.S. semifinal loss to Russia.
The United States will open their World Cup campaign against China on Friday. The Chinese team features a strong front line, including 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu, 6-10 Han Xu, and 6-7 Li Yueru. The two nations vied for the World Cup title in 2022 in Australia.