Following the quality that Las Vegas Aces halfway A’ja Wilson would beryllium unavailable for the FIBA World Cup, Team USA manager Kara Lawson said she had to set her projected starting lineup without straight communicating with Wilson astir the decision.
Lawson said Tuesday greeting that her connection regarding Wilson’s lack came done Sue Bird alternatively than straight with the four-time MVP.
“I didn’t person immoderate speech with A’ja,” Lawson said. “That was much with Birdie (Sue Bird).”
Bird has served arsenic the managing manager of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team since May 2025.
Wilson and erstwhile Aces teammate Kelsey Plum, present a subordinate of the Phoenix Mercury, person some been cardinal pieces of Team USA successful caller years, but Lawson said the squad has already shifted its absorption toward the players disposable for the World Cup.
“Both of them (Kelsey Plum included) evidently person been large players for america and I’ll miss being astir them, but yet we person benignant of moved on,” Lawson said. “We don’t person clip to beryllium disquieted astir who’s not here. We’ve got to truly absorption connected ourselves.”
Wilson has won 2 Olympic golden medals and 2 FIBA World Cup golden medals with Team USA. She was named MVP of the Paris 2024 Olympics and was selected to the Olympic All-Star Five successful some 2020 and 2024.
No further details person been released astir the “health reasons” keeping Wilson from competing successful the World Cup aft USA Basketball announced her lack Monday.
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