Angel Reese has reached another major milestone in her young basketball career. On August 6, USA Basketball named the Atlanta Dream forward to its 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. It is Reese’s first World Cup roster selection, although she made her senior national-team competitive debut during World Cup qualifying in March.
She will join stars including Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart when the tournament runs from September 4–13 in Berlin. Reese celebrated the selection by expressing gratitude for the opportunity and excitement about competing alongside Dream teammate Rhyne Howard.
Angel Reese earns first World Cup roster selection
USA Basketball announced its 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on August 6. Reese earned her first spot on a senior World Cup roster after helping the United States go 5-0 during qualifying in March.
The roster features Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Kelsey Plum, Reese, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Jackie Young. Together, they form a group built for both scoring power and defensive strength.
Reese averaged 6.8 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds during the March qualifying tournament. USA Basketball Women’s National Team managing director Sue Bird oversaw the selection process for the final World Cup team.
Team USA blends established champions with World Cup newcomers
USA Basketball’s final roster immediately sparked discussion because several accomplished players were left out. One of the most notable omissions was Sabrina Ionescu, a member of the 2024 Olympic gold-medal team and the 2022 World Cup champions.
The final group includes experienced international stars such as A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum, alongside World Cup newcomers such as Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers. Ultimately, the roster spots went to players with stronger recent numbers.
The tournament runs from September 4–13 in Berlin. The United States is seeking its 5th consecutive Women’s World Cup championship and its 12th title overall.
Reese reacts to the news with gratitude
Reese publicly celebrated the August 6 announcement shortly after being named to the World Cup roster. She said she was thankful to represent the United States and excited to compete alongside Atlanta teammate Rhyne Howard for a gold medal.
Reese described the selection as an honor and said she was “beyond grateful” for the opportunity. The message marked another step in her USA Basketball career after she helped the senior national team finish 5-0 during World Cup qualifying in March.
The World Cup selection is Reese’s first for the senior tournament and follows several previous appearances for USA Basketball at other levels. The reaction added to a growing narrative about her maturity this season.
The path from Chicago to Atlanta
The Chicago Sky selected Reese with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her rebounding and relentless energy. Over her first 2 professional seasons, she averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game while earning 2 All-Star selections.
Atlanta acquired Reese on April 6 in exchange for its 2027 and 2028 first-round draft picks. The Dream also received the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028. The move followed public comments Reese made about wanting a more competitive roster.
The trade did not reunite Reese with a former LSU teammate. Rhyne Howard played college basketball at Kentucky. However, Reese and Howard later played together for the U.S. during World Cup qualifying in March and will now represent both Atlanta and Team USA in Berlin.
A strong season fuels her World Cup case
Reese has continued to develop during her first season in Atlanta. She has been scoring at a career-high pace while remaining one of the WNBA’s leading rebounders and earning her third All-Star selection in three professional seasons.
Her most significant milestone came in June, when she became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds, doing so in 79 games and beating the previous record, held by Tina Charles, by 10 games. Reese also continues to own the WNBA single-season record for offensive rebounds after collecting 172 during her rookie season in 2024, a mark that still stands today.
Fun fact: Reese began her college career at Maryland before transferring to LSU in 2022.
Team USA aims for a 5th straight World Cup title
The U.S. roster combines established international champions with players preparing for their first senior World Cup. Wilson and Stewart have extensive championship experience, while Reese, Clark, and Bueckers are among the newer additions to the senior program.
The United States has won the last 4 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups and will attempt to claim a fifth consecutive championship in Berlin. Another title would be the program’s 12th overall World Cup gold medal. Coaches expect this roster’s depth to continue that streak in Berlin.
Reese gives the team an elite rebounding option after leading the U.S. with 8.0 rebounds per game during March qualifying. Team USA will face Czechia, Italy, and China in Group D. Analysts already consider Team USA the clear favorite heading into September.
Rhyne Howard and Reese make Dream history
Reese will have an Atlanta teammate alongside her in Berlin. Rhyne Howard also made the 12-player U.S. World Cup roster after helping the national team go 5-0 during qualifying in March. Together, they became the first Dream duo to represent the country at a full team tournament.
According to the Dream, Howard and Reese are the first 2 Atlanta players in franchise history to represent the United States together at a 5-on-5 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup or Olympic Games. They are also just the second and third Dream players to represent the franchise on Team USA at either event.
The 2 are not former college teammates. Reese played at Maryland and LSU, while Howard played at Kentucky. Their recent connection instead comes through the Dream and USA Basketball.
What the selection means for Reese
The World Cup roster adds another international milestone to Reese’s résumé. She already helped the senior U.S. team qualify in March, but Berlin will give her a first opportunity to compete on the final Women’s World Cup roster.
Reese also remains in the middle of Atlanta’s playoff push. The WNBA will pause its regular season from August 31 through September 16 for the World Cup, meaning the playoff race will resume after players return from Berlin. The regular season ends September 24, with the playoffs beginning September 27.
For now, she remains focused on finishing a strong WNBA season with Atlanta. The Dream continues chasing a deep playoff run before the World Cup begins. Reese has made clear that team success matters more to her than personal accolades.
Fun fact: Reese’s mother is also named Angel. Reese has credited her mother with introducing her to basketball, saying she taught her how to play.
TL;DR
- Angel Reese earned her first Team USA selection for the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
- USA Basketball announced its 12-player World Cup roster on August 6.
- Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026.
- Reese is scoring at a career-high pace while continuing to rank among the WNBA’s leading rebounders.
- Teammate Rhyne Howard also made the roster, making Dream history together.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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