USA Basketball just dropped their roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, and while it’s stacked with superstars, one name is conspicuously missing that has the entire league buzzing. Managing director Sue Bird made the announcement on the TODAY show Thursday morning, revealing the 12 players heading to Berlin, Germany, from September 4 to 13. The team includes absolute titans like Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum, all set to chase their 12th World Cup title.
Stacked Roster, Sky-High Expectations
You know Team USA; they are the most dominant squad in sports history. Seriously, they’ve got 10 Olympic gold medals and another 11 gold medals from previous FIBA World Cup tournaments. So yeah, the pressure is always on, and this group is expected to bring home the gold from Berlin. Sue Bird herself emphasized the talent, saying, “This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin. 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.” With that lineup, it’s no surprise they’ll be favored in every single game in Germany.
The Olivia Miles Outrage Is Real
But let’s be real, whenever Team USA names a squad, there’s always an uproar about who *didn’t* make the cut, right? This year, though, it feels different. The absence that’s causing the most noise, the loudest shouts, the biggest questions? Rookie phenom Olivia Miles. Fans are absolutely losing it online, asking “WHERE IS OLIVIA MILES?!?!?” And honestly, it’s a valid question. Miles is tearing it up for the Minnesota Lynx, averaging an insane 19.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. She’s single-handedly leading the Lynx to the top of the WNBA standings, she’s the only first-year player to snatch a Rookie of the Month award this season, making her a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year, and she even started in the WNBA All-Star game. This kid is absolutely in the conversation for best guard in the league, so how is she not on Team USA?
The hot take floating around is that Miles didn’t attend a training camp back in March. She was still in college at the time, which, you know, is a pretty good reason to miss a camp. Bird clarified that training camp isn’t a *technical* requirement to make the roster, but she did call it an “important piece” for coaches to see players in the USA Basketball environment and under their system. So, maybe it was an unwritten rule, or bad timing, but either way, the best rookie in the league is out, and the WNBA world is scratching its head.
Meanwhile, Back in the Emerald City…
While the basketball world debates that massive snub, our own Seattle Storm just wrapped up a tough one on the road. The Storm fell to the New York Liberty 86-92. That’s a rough loss for our squad. You know our Storm will be looking to bounce back next time they hit the court. Keep an eye on them; they always fight hard!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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