Team USA has already suffered a major blow to its FIBA World Cup hopes as both A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum have pulled out of the tournament for health reasons, USA Basketball has confirmed. For most nations, this would derail their ambitions of lifting the trophy; however, USA's never-ending talent pool has allowed the team to add the Washington Mystics' star duo, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, to the roster.
Breaking: Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson will no longer compete for Team USA at the upcoming FIBA Women's World Cup due to health reasons, USA Basketball announced. The Mystics' Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have been named to the roster in their place.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) August 31, 2026
While many may have expected Kelsey Plum's injury-riddled 2026 campaign to prevent her from competing at the World Cup, the announcement of A'ja Wilson's absence is somewhat of a shock. Wilson has never shied away from international duty in the past -- winning an incredible four Olympic and two World Cup Gold medals -- meaning this health concern could become a major issue for the Las Vegas Aces moving forward.
A'ja Wilson leaves a gaping MVP-sized hole in Team USA's roster, but head coach Kara Lawson is blessed with the deepest pool of talent in the international game. Her ability to call upon the services of both Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron is evidence enough that USA will remain the team to beat for the foreseeable future.
Washington's superstars will be ready to contribute
No player can replace A'ja Wilson, and Kelsey Plum is one of the deadliest guards in the entire WNBA. Still, both Iriafen and Citron have proven this season that they are more than capable of rubbing shoulders with the most talented stars.
Before the 2026 season began, few people predicted that the Washington Mystics would boast the quality and experience to clinch a playoff berth, let alone compete for a top-five seed in the regular-season standings. Nevertheless, Sydney Johnson has guided his young stars to the promised land, with Iriafen and Citron playing a crucial role in their success.
Kiki Iriafen has established her reputation as one of the league's finest forwards. Few opponents have been able to best her in the paint, as her dominance on the glass has been remarkable. Throughout the 2026 season, the 23-year-old has averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.8% from the floor.
Alongside Iriafen, Sonia Citron has thrived in Washington's backcourt and is quickly becoming one of the most devastating guards in the WNBA. The Notre Dame alum has recorded 16.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
Whether the Mystics' star duo will be trusted with a prominent role in Team USA's rotation is another matter entirely. With the likes of Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Aliyah Boston all featuring in the squad as 'up-and-coming' talent, it is hard to imagine that Iriafen and Citron will be able to demand big minutes.
However, this announcement proves that the USA has limitless options coming through the ranks right now, and European nations such as France will have to remain patient as they hope to knock the reigning World Cup champions off their ivory throne.
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