Team USA has done it again, and again, and again—and by “done it,” I mean won gold at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in four straight tournaments (while adding four Olympic gold medals during that stretch, too).
This year, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup—a worldwide tournament that takes place every four years and features the best national teams in the world—heads to Berlin, Germany, from September 4 through September 13. DraftKings Sportsbook is offering plenty of ways to get in on the action, including tournament winner and USA Top Points Scorer.
Let’s highlight Team USA’s 12-woman roster, preview its first matchup, and answer the big question: Can anyone actually beat Team USA?
Team USA 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Roster
Team USA’s roster has the official Sue Bird touch, as the four-time FIBA Women’s World Cup champion and managing director of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team hand-selected the 12-player roster:
| Player | WNBA team |
|---|---|
| Aliyah Boston | Indiana Fever |
| Paige Bueckers | Dallas Wings |
| *Sonia Citron | Washington Mystics |
| Caitlin Clark | Indiana Fever |
| Napheesa Collier | Minnesota Lynx |
| Kahleah Copper | Phoenix Mercury |
| Chelsea Gray | Las Vegas Aces |
| Rhyne Howard | Atlanta Dream |
| *Kiki Iriafen | Washington Mystics |
| Angel Reese | Atlanta Dream |
| Breanna Stewart | New York Liberty |
| Jackie Young | Las Vegas Aces |
*Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were later additions to the roster after two-time World Cup gold medalists Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson were no longer available due to health reasons.
Bird stated that she aimed to curate a roster with both youth and veteran presences, as well as players with international experience. The result is an extremely talented roster with offensive firepower from Caitlin Clark, Kahleah Copper, and Paige Bueckers, as well as defensive prowess from Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese.
Team USA FIBA Women’s World Cup History
Team USA has been an absolutely dominant force in the basketball world for the past two decades, not losing an Olympic or World Cup game since the 2006 World Championship semifinals. Throughout the tournament’s history, Team USA has collected 11 gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals in 18 appearances, with 2026 marking its 19th trip to the World Cup.
Three players with World Cup experience are returning this year, giving the young roster much-needed veteran leadership throughout a physically and mentally challenging tournament:
Team USA FIBA World Cup Returners:
- Breanna Stewart — three-time champion: 2014, 2018 and 2022
- Kahleah Copper — 2022 champion
- Chelsea Gray — 2022 champion
Can anyone beat Team USA?
Now that is a good question. The United States has been the powerhouse in women’s basketball worldwide since the international stage was set, and this year’s roster is no outlier. Team USA is currently the favorite to win gold at -400 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and more bring valuable talent, from Clark’s pinpoint passing to Reese’s dominance on the glass—but can they play together? Plus, losing veterans Kelsey Plum and four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson gives other teams a bit more of a chance ahead of the start of the tournament.
Per USA Basketball, Bueckers stated that playing for Team USA is about more than being an individual star, saying, “anyone can [score] 20, 30 points a night… but what can you do to contribute to winning? And what can you do to sacrifice?” I believe that will be a strong motif throughout the tournament. This roster is overflowing with talent, so the real question is how those individual stars can come together for the greater good of the team.
Looking outside of the United States, France owns the second-shortest odds to win gold at +800, with Belgium right behind at +1000. France’s roster includes the Storm’s promising young star Dominique Malonga, a dynamic 6’6″ center who’s averaging 17.0 points per game for Seattle while also providing strong rim protection. Gabby Williams also joins Team France after being a huge contributor to the Golden State Valkyries’ 29 wins during the 2026 WNBA season. She provides both offensive production and aggressive defensive play, while fellow Valk Janelle Salaün has averaged 16.7 points per game through three games with France in 2026.
Belgium, meanwhile, looks to build off its run at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after losing to Australia in the third-place game. Emma Meesseman returns as the centerpiece of the action, while Julie Allemand should control the point and pace for her team.
While the teams in contention for gold have plenty of talented players on their rosters, Team USA is filled from top to bottom with players possessing elite, versatile skill sets that should mesh well together under Sue Bird’s thoughtful roster construction. It’s sometimes boring to go chalk and lean Team USA, but with history and the current roster painting a pretty clear picture, the United States should add another gold medal to its arsenal this month.
WINNER: TEAM USA (-400)
2026 FIBA World Cup Markets on DraftKings Sportsbook
- Game Lines (spread, moneyline, over/under)
- FIBA World Cup Women 2026: Winner
- USA Top Points Scorer
- Group Winner
- To Qualify From Group
- Winners Group
- Team Stage of Elimination
- Winner Without Team USA
DraftKings Sportsbook is also offering a 30% All Parlay Boost valid with minimum two legs and minimum -200 odds, running between September 4 — September 6!
Frequently Asked Questions
- When does Team USA play its first game in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup?
- USA opens group play against China on Friday, September 4, followed by Italy on Sunday, September 6.
- Where does the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup take place?
- The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup will be played in Berlin, Germany from September 4 – September 13.
- Where can I find the odds for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup?
- You can place your bets here on DraftKings Sportsbook
