USA Basketball confirmed Monday that reigning MVP A'ja Wilson and veteran guard Kelsey Plum will both miss the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup, a late double blow to the Americans' bid for a fifth straight title as the tournament opens Friday in Berlin.

Plum's absence is the more severe: the Phoenix Mercury announced she is done for the rest of the 2026 WNBA season because of a persistent left calf injury that traces back to a sprained ankle in late May. She appeared in just five games for Phoenix after being traded from Los Angeles in early August, and last played on Aug. 29 against the Portland Fire, according to Yahoo Sports.

"I did everything I could to be back on the court, but just ran out of time... The decision has been made to shut it down through the remainder of the season and focus on getting my body back to 100%," Plum wrote on Instagram.

Wilson's situation is murkier. USA Basketball listed her exit as being for "health reasons," and she has appeared on the Las Vegas Aces' injury report twice in the past week with a back issue — even as she logged 30 minutes in the Aces' most recent game. The four-time WNBA MVP is coming off a stretch where Las Vegas also lost forward NaLyssa Smith to a season-ending knee injury, piling extra workload onto Wilson down the stretch of the WNBA playoff race, per ESPN's reporting.

Mystics duo steps in

To fill the two vacancies, USA Basketball added Washington Mystics teammates Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, both 22 and 23 respectively, who will make their senior national team debuts. Citron, a two-time WNBA All-Star, and Iriafen, who is averaging roughly 15 points and 9 rebounds this season, give the roster more size and perimeter depth but represent a clear talent downgrade from two Olympic and World Cup gold medalists, CBS Sports notes.

Mercury general manager Nick U'Ren defended the decision to shut Plum down: "Ultimately, this was about doing what is best for Kelsey's long-term health and making sure she has the time and support she needs to return to the court at full strength."

Wilson and Plum have each won two prior World Cup gold medals with Team USA, and their absence has already drawn scrutiny, with some fans online suggesting the timing — right as the WNBA playoff push intensifies — was no coincidence, though neither player nor USA Basketball has confirmed that framing.

Team USA remains the favorite to win a fifth consecutive world title despite the shakeup. The Americans open group play against China on Sept. 4, followed by Italy on Sept. 6 and Czechia on Sept. 7, with the knockout rounds running through the Sept. 13 final in Berlin.