Gamecock greats Boston, Wilson boost USA frontcourt for 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup

Columbia, S.C. (WCIV)–Two of the most notable South Carolina women’s basketball alumnae will play in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, USA Basketball announced Thursday.

In a team littered with talent, Aliyha Boston, the starting center for the Indiana Fever, and A’ja Wilson, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces, will buttress the frontcourt for USA Basketball’s Women’s National Team.

Wilson, an eight-time All-Star, is the WNBA’s leading scorer this season with 26.6 points per game on 52.4 percent shooting. Her 9.6 rebounds per game are third best, and she leads the league with 2.0 blocks per game. In her fourth All-Star season, Boston is scoring a career-best 16.9 points per game on 52.6 percent shooting.

During Boston’s tenure at the University of South Carolina, she won the 2022 NCAA Championship and was named the Associated Press Player of the Year. She also claimed the John R. Wooden Award and was the Naismith College Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, Wilson remains one of South Carolina’s most decorated players in program history. She won the NCAA Championship in 2017, the same year she was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.

During her senior season, Wilson won the Naismith College Player of the Year, the Wade Trophy, the John R. Wooden Award and the Associated Press Player of the Year.

The two Gamecocks are joined by a roster chalked full of elite palyers: Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Kelsey Plum (Phoenix Mercury), Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty) and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces).

“This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin,” said Sue Bird, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team managing director. “Wearing a USA jersey is a privilege, and 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.”

Returners to the squad include Cooper, Gray, Plum, Stewart and Wilson, who are looking to defend the 2022 FIBA World Cup title. Along with Collier and Young, the group will look to win their second major international women’s basketball title in the last three years, having won gold at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Boston, Bueckers, Clark, Collier, Howard, Reese and Young will make their FIBA World Cup debuts, and Boston, Bueckers, Clark and Reese will make their first USA appearance at a major international competition (World Cup or Olympic Games).