With a new-look roster and no A’ja Wilson the US FIBA World Cup title defense gets tougher

BERLIN (AP) – The U.S. Has dominated the women's FIBA World Cup for almost two decades, winning the last four titles.

Key points

• A young American roster led by the trio of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese now complement U.S.
• The world has been catching up to the Americans with France coming within a point the U.S.
• The Americans will be missing four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson.
• I think there's no question that the world is improving at a rapid rate.

Meanwhile, a young American roster led by the trio of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese now complement U.S. Stalwart Breanna Stewart as the team looks to win its fifth straight championship.

Notably, the Americans will be missing four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson. This person the team confirmed Monday would miss the World Cup along with Kelsey Plum. They were replaced by newcomers Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen.

In practice, the world has been catching up to the Americans with France coming within a point the U.S. In the gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That's the closest any team has come to beating the U.S. In either the Olympics or World Cup since the Americans last lost in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup to Russia.

"I think there's no question that the world is improving at a rapid rate. It's so exciting to see, and I see it at every level, " U.S. Coach Kara Lawson remarked Tuesday. "There's more depth to the teams at the World Cup. Now when you look at rosters, there's a number of just high-quality players. I think it's going to be the most tough World Cup to win that we've had as of that."

Taken together, the developments around with a new-look roster and no Aja Wilson the US FIBA World point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.