The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup kicks off on September 4th in Berlin, and Team USA is chasing their 12th world title and an insane fifth-straight gold medal. But get this: the squad hitting the court looks *nothing* like the one that snagged Olympic gold two summers ago. A’ja Wilson is sidelined with a back injury, and Kelsey Plum is dealing with calf and lower-leg issues that actually ended her WNBA season early. Seriously, these are not small losses for head coach Kara Lawson’s crew.
The Shocking Hole Left by Two Superstars
Losing Wilson and Plum isn’t just a tough break, it’s a seismic shift. Think back to the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal game, that nail-biting 67-66 win over France. Wilson was an absolute beast, dropping a game-high 21 points, taking 14 shots and hitting six, plus getting to the free throw line a whopping 12 times. Plum wasn’t far behind, adding 12 points herself on 2-for-6 shooting, and going perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Combined, those two accounted for about 30 of Team USA’s 71 true shot attempts, which is almost 42% of the entire team’s offensive output! We’re talking nearly half of the points in the biggest game of the tournament came from *just* Wilson and Plum. When France started pushing hard and possessions got super tight, the ball found Wilson in the post or Plum off a screen, again and again. Those go-to options? Gone. Team USA won’t have that clutch security blanket in Berlin, and that means everything has to change.
A Deeper Squad, A Different Attack for Berlin
So, what’s the plan when you lose nearly half your offense? Team USA is going for a total identity reboot. Don’t expect one or two players to hog 35% or more of the shot attempts. This is going to be a much more egalitarian attack, spread across a deeper, and way more perimeter-oriented, group. It’s an exciting, fresh look for the squad.
Stepping onto the senior national team for the first time are Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. Each brings something unique to the table. Clark’s bombs from well beyond the arc and her pick-and-roll game are going to open things up. Bueckers is that mid-range assassin who can create her own shot and shoulder those tough shot-making responsibilities. And Reese? She’s an absolute menace on the offensive glass, racking up second-chance points and free throws without even needing primary touches. Add in proven leaders like Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, who started every game in Paris, plus Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray running the show as ball handlers, and this team has serious depth. It’s a completely different puzzle for opponents to solve, and the World Cup title is on the line when they tip off tomorrow!
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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