SUE BIRD NAMES 12 — INCLUDING CLARK AND SIX OTHERS MAKING WORLD CUP DEBUT.

The wait is over, basketball fans!

We have the USA Basketball roster for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup hosted by Berlin in September.

Here is the roster selected by women's basketball managing director Sue Bird:

“I’m so excited to announce the 2026 USA Basketball Women’s National Team,” Bird said in the official press release.

“I know these 12 players will embrace that responsibility as we go after another gold medal. I can’t wait to see what this team accomplishes together,” she added.

Erica made a bold prediction on Gotta Get Up that the roster could skew to younger talent since USA is already qualified for LA28 as the host nation, not to mention the common belief that if USA fielded three teams they would sweep the medal stand.

So, why go with a veteran lineup?

Bird indicated on the call this roster was a mix of vets and newcomers, and USA Basketball added the following to the release:

The USA team might be more of a “baby vet” team, all the more reason Erica argued we should use this tournament as a way to pull out some of those baby teeth and give players like Collier, Howard, Bueckers, and Clark a chance to show how/if they can step up as leaders on the international stage.

Best to do it while going young is still a luxury the United States can afford. The rest of the world is catching up, if they’re not there already.

Here’s what you need to know today:

‼️FIBA World Cup Field Guide - Volume I
The WBB Roundup World Cup Field Guide — For Subscribers!

⏱️ Kelsey Plum Heats Up The Valley
How is the All-Star fitting in after a midseason trade?

⏱️ Aneesah Morrow traded to the Toronto Tempo
Which players will be on the move?

🏀 The Liberty stand pat at the deadline.
What next for the New York Liberty?

💰 Money moves
Cleveland returns to the WNBA with a brand new style.

🗓 Upcoming games
What’s on deck to begin the week.

📰 What we’re reading
Some great writing that’s come across our desks.

We built something for Berlin.

Berlin 2026: The WBB Roundup World Cup Field Guide is a living, updatable tracker covering every team, every game, and every storyline heading into the FIBA Women's World Cup — September 4–13 in Germany.

16 nations. 36 games. One trophy. USA chasing a five-peat.

Here's what's inside:

Starting Five and Legacy 22 subscribers get access to the live document.

Free subscribers get access a PDF updated weekly.

⏬ Get Access the Field Guide ⏬

23.9 POINTS PER GAME. A MIDSEASON TRADE. AND A MERCURY TEAM THAT NEEDS A MIRACLE.

One of the WNBA’s biggest stars is on the move.

Early in the morning on August 1, news broke that the Los Angeles Sparks were trading Kelsey Plum. Plum was traded to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, the Mercury’s 2027 first round draft pick and 2028 second round draft pick.

In Phoenix, the move was met with excitement by Mercury players and personnel.

The Mercury are currently 5.5 games behind the eighth seeded Washington Mystics for the eighth and final playoff spot. The two teams have yet to play each other this season and have the first of three meetings on August 9. Although the chances of Phoenix making it to the playoffs are slim, this veteran group is not giving up.

“There’s still a chance, and so in my mind, that’s what I’m thinking about: chipping away, winning games and fighting to get into the playoffs.” Plum said. “And the WNBA is crazy this year, the margin of error is extremely small. You really just got to get in, and it’s a five-game series, make it shake. So that’s really my focus, and that’s really kind of what I’m thinking about.”

In Plum, the Mercury acquire the WNBA’s third leading scorer this season. With the Sparks, Plum averaged a career best 23.9 points per game on a career high 52.7 percent shooting from the field. In her Mercury debut, she came off the bench to score 20 points and the shot that turned out to be the game winner.

Phoenix has a long way to go before they get back to the playoffs, and every game is essentially a must-win.

For the Sparks, they made the first step in evaluating their future. In Monique Akoa Makani, they have a young point guard that will help their struggling defense.

“She is a talented young player with tremendous upside who competes on both ends of the floor,” Sparks Assistant General Manager Zach Knowlton said. “Her athleticism, versatility and work ethic make her a great fit for our organization, and we're looking forward to helping her continue to develop in Los Angeles."

And like Plum, she will make her debut against the Chicago Sky!

There wasn’t much to this year’s trade deadline. Teams stood pat and appear to be waiting for the off-season. As we continue getting used to this new CBA, we’ll see how teams build rosters and make the most of their draft picks.

MORROW LEAVES CONNECTICUT FOR A FRESH START — AND A TEAM THAT ACTUALLY WANTS HER.

On Friday night, the Toronto Tempo acquired Aneesah Morrow from the Connecticut Sun.

Morrow was acquired in exchange for Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick. Morrow is someone that immediately slots into the Tempo’s plans and they hope she will be a building block as they build a promising future.

“She’s not the biggest post player but she’s fierce and she’s very competitive and has that high motor and can do a lot of great things,” Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello said. “I know that she’s going to be a really nice asset for us as we move forward.”

Morrow appeared in 20 games for the Sun this season, but things didn’t really click for her there. Being on a new team in a new country is something she’s excited for as she begins a new adventure.

“For me, I would say that it’s important to be in a place where you’re valued and appreciated,” Morrow said. “That’s what I get from that. But just hearing from my teammates, they want the best for me. And it’s great to be around individuals like that, that want the best for you, and the ultimate goal is to win.”

The Tempo have done a solid job this season. They’re growing their fanbase and have helped their players reach new heights. With Morrow, they hope they have their power forward of the future as they look to establish themselves as major players going forward.

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FIVE WINS IN SIX GAMES. BLH STAYS. THE HOLE IS STILL DEEP.

Somewhat surprisingly, the New York Liberty did not make any moves at the trading deadline.

The team was briefly linked to Kelsey Plum, but that didn’t go anywhere. By all accounts, it appeared that Betnijah Laney-Hamilton would be traded elsewhere as she has fallen out of Chris DeMarco’s rotation, but she was not traded and remains on the team. Laney-Hamilton admitted that the rumors and uncertainty have been “a lot,” but her teammates have her back and still rely on her.

“She’s a great player and she’s had a really successful career in the WNBA,” Breanna Stewart said. “Knowing what she can give us on and off the court at all times is really important and special. Even just the way she’s communicating at halftime and giving players options or ideas is really important. For me, that’s advice that I want to hear.”

There’s been so much frustration and sadness among the Liberty fanbase regarding Laney-Hamilton and her lack of playing time. If anything changes, we’ll make sure to keep you posted.

On the latest edition of Gotta Get Up, Erica L. Ayala and I discussed all things Liberty.

Now that the roster is set for the rest of the season, it’s up to the team to figure things out. Entering action on August 5 against the Seattle Storm, the Liberty have won five out of their last six games.

All but one of them have been incredibly close and have come down to the final possession. The Liberty aren’t in position to give wins back, so they’ll take whatever they can get.

The Liberty have a tough road ahead of them. They’ve dug themselves a hole they have to climb out of.

The competition is only getting tougher and they have a lot of work to do if they want to gain homecourt advantage and live up to their potential.

THE SIRENS ARE CALLING IN CLEVELAND.

Cleveland is officially back in the WNBA. However, they’re back with a twist.

When Cleveland first had a WNBA team from 1997-2003, they were the Rockers. They made the playoffs four times, going as far as the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000. They were disbanded in 2003 due to issues with ownership. Cleveland basketball is back, but they will not be the Rockers.

On August 4, the new Cleveland team was unveiled to the public. They will be the Sirens, and the name plays on the connection Cleveland has to Lake Erie while also being something that demands attention. As we draw closer to their debut in 2028, anticipation in the Midwest will continue to build.

For fans that have been pining for a WNBA team since the Rockers’ departure in 2003, this revival takes on even more significance.

“It means so much to me,” Amanda Petrak said. “I found myself getting emotional. For me, it’s a full-circle moment to be a part of the inaugural season of the Rockers and then to be able to be there for the naming announcement — it meant a lot. And the fact that a lot of the former Rockers were there, it was a wonderful experience to see them and interact with them and see their excitement for the WNBA 30 years later.”

“It had to be authentically and distinctively Cleveland. … We are bold, we are a rising tide,” Sirens President of Business Operations Allison Howard said. “This team will be absolutely impossible to ignore. A siren demands attention.”

This moment is a welcome reward for WNBA fans and the city of Cleveland. The fans and league have weathered so many storms and fought hard to make it here.

Now that the WNBA is on the upswing, fans across the country can celebrate and help chart a new, exciting path.

Here’s the schedule for the next few days

At Black Rosie Media, we love to give flowers to other writers and creators in the women’s basketball community.

Here’s what we’re reading:

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