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‘AA”ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will not be able to compete in the tournament due to health issues and are forcing Team USA to alter its plans when the countdown is already underway.’
The United States announced this Monday the withdrawal of both players, who will be replaced by their Washington teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron.
Two absences that change the outlook
The absence of both players shook the start of the women’s basketball World Cup.
The absence of A”ja is especially significant. The Las Vegas Aces star, a four-time WNBA MVP, arrived as one of the team’s leaders.
With her selection, Wilson was chosen as the standout player of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the 2022 World Cup. The United States loses a gem for the meeting of the best national teams in the world.
During the first part of the season, the player had borne a significant workload and needed time to rest
“In Plum’s case, she has had a calf injury for a long time, and she has played a large part of the WNBA season with it without recovering 100%. It is also a hard blow for the national team.
The unexpected opportunity for Iriafen and Citron
The story now has two new protagonists. Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, teammates in Washington, will be responsible for filling the spots left by Wilson and Plum.
Both had previously participated in the national team’s camps, but now the situation is completely different: they will have the chance to be part of the team that will try to defend the historic dominance of the United States in the World Cups.
A star-studded team
The original Team USA roster had already been announced in early August and was led by names such as Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and Wilson herself. Plum was also part of that group of 12 players.
Now, just days before the debut, the United States will have to face the World Cup without two of its most experienced stars. The objective remains the same: to lift the trophy again. But the road to that fifth consecutive title has just become more complicated.
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