2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup: Team USA roster, schedule, games, how to watch, live stream
Later this month, the world’s top women’s basketball players will converge in Australia for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Championship, taking place from September 22nd to October 1st. All matches will be played in Sydney, although there are multiple venues in the city.
As the sport’s current and historical powerhouse, Team USA are once again the favorites to win the competition. The Americans have won a record 10 World Cup gold medals and are aiming for a fourth straight title. In fact, Team USA hasn’t lost a single game in this competition since losing to Russia in the semi-finals of the 2006 tournament.
Ahead of all the action, here’s everything you need to know about Team USA:
Schedule
Team USA was drawn into Group A along with Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Puerto Rico and South Korea. You play each team once, with two points awarded for a win and one point for a draw. The Americans need to finish in the top four of the group to advance to the knockout rounds.
preliminary round
- Team USA vs. Belgium | Wednesday, September 21 at 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+
- Team USA vs Puerto Rico | Thursday, September 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+
- Team USA vs China | Saturday, September 24 at 12:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+
- Team USA vs South Korea | Monday, September 26 at 12 p.m. ET | ESPN+
- Team USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina | Wednesday, September 28 at 12 p.m. ET | ESPN+
KO phase
roster
Team USA has yet to release a final roster due to the ongoing WNBA Finals, which may not end until a day before the World Championship begins. Of course, that would make it difficult to include players like Chelsea Gray, Brionna Jones, Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas and reigning WNBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year A’ja Wilson.
Aging with stalwart companions like Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles and Diana Taurasi, Napheesa Collier recovering from her pregnancy, Skylar Diggins-Smith dealing with personal issues, and Brittney Griner imprisoned in Russia this be a new national team. And maybe more depending on what happens to the players who compete in the finals.
As it stands, Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd and Ariel Atkins are the only members of the 2020 Olympics gold medal winning team certain to travel to Australia.
Here’s a look at the tentative list that eventually has to be narrowed down to 12.
|
Ariel Atkins |
Guard |
Washington mystic |
|
Shakira Austin |
Forward/Center |
Washington mystic |
|
Aliyah Boston |
center |
South Carolina (NCAA) |
|
Kahleah Copper |
Guard/Forward |
Chicago sky |
|
Diamond DeShields |
Guard |
Phoenix Mercury |
|
Stefanie Dolson |
center |
New York freedom |
|
Chelsea Grey |
Guard |
Las Vegas Aces |
|
Rhine Howard |
Guard/Forward |
Atlanta dream |
|
Sabrina Ionescu |
Guard |
New York freedom |
|
Briona Jones |
center |
Connecticut sun |
|
Betnya Laney |
Guard/Forward |
New York freedom |
|
Jewel Loyd |
Guard |
Seattle Storm |
|
Kelsey Plum |
Guard |
Las Vegas Aces |
|
Hey Lyssa Smith |
Forward |
Indiana fever |
|
Breanna Stewart |
Forward |
Seattle Storm |
|
Alisa Thomas |
Forward |
Connecticut sun |
|
Aye Wilson |
Forward |
Las Vegas Aces |
coaching staff
- Head Coach: Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx)
- Assistant: Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics)
- Assistant: Kara Lawson (Duke)
- Assistant: Joni Taylor (Texas A&M)