Team USA announced its final 12-player roster for the upcoming 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany.
One of the biggest snubs was Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever. She has been one of the best guards in the WNBA this season, averaging 24.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game on 50.2% shooting from the field, including 43.8% from 3-point range.
The WNBA even named her Eastern Conference Player of the Month for July.
Fans React to Team USA Snubbing Kelsey Mitchell
GettyKelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever shoots the ball against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Here are some of the reactions to Kelsey Mitchell not making it to the Team USA roster for the 2026 FIBA World Cup:
@cc22report: “The fact that Kelsey Mitchell is not on this list, nor will she ever presumably be on ANY Team USA list, is a travesty by the way.”
@JaimeLardis: “No Kelsey Mitchell?! 🤯 I would’ve taken her over Chelsea Gray without hesitation.”
@0ceanblueeyes22: “Did anyone ever solve the mystery of why Team USA has never showed any interest in Kelsey Mitchell? What’s up with that????”
@kevjoseph_: “No @Kelz_Hoop is borderline Blasphemy! @usabasketball she’s the best pure scorer in the W and probably the world, a bright light and a quality teammate! Unbelievable!”
@FroemelAndy: “Kelsey Mitchell was snubbed as Chelsea Gray has no buisness being on this team. The WNBA has a nepotism problem.”
@reality82925: “No Kelsey Mitchell is diabolical.”
It’s unclear why Mitchell wasn’t selected by Team USA. She wasn’t part of the preliminary roster that had training camp in December and played at the FIBA Qualifying Tournament in March.
CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney predicted Mitchell’s snub, alluding to her lack of Team USA experience.
“Team USA experience matters. Kelsey Mitchell, for example, is playing as well as any American guard right now, but she’s never been on the roster for a major 5×5 international tournament and wasn’t a part of the most recent Team USA training camp.”
Mitchell won a gold medal for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup. She was one of 16 finalists for Team USA’s 2018 FIBA World Cup roster and played in the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament, as per USAB.com.
Team USA Full Roster
The roster includes five members of the 2022 FIBA World Cup-winning team, while seven newcomers will make their senior debut at a major tournament.
Here’s the complete Team USA roster:
- Paige Bueckers | Guard | Dallas Wings
- Kelsey Plum | Guard | Phoenix Mercury
- Rhyne Howard | Guard | Atlanta Dream
- Kahleah Copper | Forward | Phoenix Mercury
- Chelsea Gray | Guard | Las Vegas Aces
- A’ja Wilson | Forward | Las Vegas Aces
- Breanna Stewart | Forward | New York Liberty
- Napheesa Collier | Forward | Minnesota Lynx
- Caitlin Clark | Guard | Indiana Fever
- Jackie Young | Guard | Las Vegas Aces
- Aliyah Boston | Forward | Indiana Fever
- Angel Reese | Forward | Atlanta Dream
Duke’s Kara Lawson will be in charge as head coach, while Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries, Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury and Stephanie White of the Indiana Fever serve as assistant coaches.
Plum, Copper, Gray, Wilson and Stewart were all part of Team USA’s roster in the 2022 FIBA World Cup.
WNBA Fans React to Kelsey Mitchell Getting Snubbed by Team USA