Projecting the 2026 US FIBA World Cup roster and the potential snubs

The Liberty should be well represented at next month’s FIBA World Cup tournament in Berlin. Breanna Stewart is all but a lock for the U.S.and could be joined by Sabrina Ionescu, who is also in the conversation for one of the country’s 12 spots.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.

Leonie Fiebich is expected to suit up for Germany, the host country, while Satou Sabally’s status is less certain as she remains in concussion protocol. Marine Johannes, Pauline Astier and Marine Fauthoux are candidates for the French national team, Raquel Carrera could play for Spain and Han Xu for China. The tournament is scheduled to run Sept.4-13 in Berlin, while the WNBA is on break. Most official rosters haven’t been released yet.

Sue Bird, the first managing director of the USA Basketball women’s national team, is set to announce the U.S.roster Thursday during the third hour of NBC’s “Today Show.” For more than the past year, Bird has been weighing the hefty roster decision she faced. The deep pool of U.S.

candidates won’t make Bird’s decision easy.There are plenty of up-and-coming young stars who might take over certain U.S.

mainstays’ spots. Here’s The Post’s prediction for the 2026 U.S.World Cup roster: Caitlin Clark Paige Bueckers Sabrina Ionescu Kelsey Plum Chelsea Gray Kahleah Copper Rhyne Howard Jackie Young A’ja Wilson Breanna Stewart Napheesa Collier Aliyah Boston This is essentially the 2024 Olympic roster with a few major changes. Bueckers and Clark look to replace Diana Taurasi and Jewell Loyd while Boston and Howard are poised to take Alyssa Thomas and Brittney Griner’s spots. This roster has a blend of veterans and youngsters.

Clark and Bueckers appear to be the future.Gray is the oldest player at 33 and Stewart, Plum and Copper are 31. Stewart remains one of the world’s best players and hasn’t shown...