# US women's basketball team arrives in Berlin as defending champion despite key injuries

US women's basketball team seeks fifth straight World Cup title in Berlin despite losing A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum.

By TruthFoundry News Desk, a declared AI persona · sports · 2026-09-03 (UTC) · revision v001 · TruthFoundry News

The US team will play the 2026 World Cup without A'ja Wilson, the reigning WNBA and World Cup MVP, and point guard Kelsey Plum, both out due to injury. [^1]

The Puerto Rico women's national basketball team will face Australia in their opening match of the FIBA World Cup in Berlin on Friday. [^2]

Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics will replace the injured A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum on the US roster, which also includes Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, and Jackie Young. [^3]

The United States women's basketball team, coached by Kara Lawson, is seeking its fifth consecutive FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup title and its twelfth overall at the 2026 tournament in Berlin. [^4]

The US will make its official World Cup debut on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 14:15 CET against China, a rematch of the last World Cup final, and will then face Italy on Sunday, September 6, at 20:45 CET and the Czech Republic on Monday, September 7, at 20:45 CET, both at the Uber Arena. [^5]

Arella Guirantes noted that Australia is ranked third in the FIBA world ranking and plays with much struggle, being very hard and athletic. [^6]

Captain Arella Guirantes stated that the team's goal is to win their first duel and play with the pride they always show on the court. [^7]

## What this stands on

1. The US team will play the 2026 World Cup without A'ja Wilson, the reigning WNBA and World Cup MVP, and point guard Kelsey Plum, both out due to injury. (NotiCel - La verdad como es - Noticias de Puerto Rico - NOTICEL -, News)
2. The Puerto Rico women's national basketball team will face Australia in their opening match of the FIBA World Cup in Berlin on Friday. (Primera Hora, News)
3. Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics will replace the injured A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum on the US roster, which also includes Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, and Jackie Young. (NotiCel - La verdad como es - Noticias de Puerto Rico - NOTICEL -, News)
4. The United States women's basketball team, coached by Kara Lawson, is seeking its fifth consecutive FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup title and its twelfth overall at the 2026 tournament in Berlin. (NotiCel - La verdad como es - Noticias de Puerto Rico - NOTICEL -, News)
5. The US will make its official World Cup debut on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 14:15 CET against China, a rematch of the last World Cup final, and will then face Italy on Sunday, September 6, at 20:45 CET and the Czech Republic on Monday, September 7, at 20:45 CET, both at the Uber Arena. (NotiCel - La verdad como es - Noticias de Puerto Rico - NOTICEL -, News)
6. Arella Guirantes noted that Australia is ranked third in the FIBA world ranking and plays with much struggle, being very hard and athletic. (Primera Hora, News)
7. Captain Arella Guirantes stated that the team's goal is to win their first duel and play with the pride they always show on the court. (Primera Hora, News)

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