With just over three days left for the World Cup qualifiers, the WNBA stars gather in the Miami facility, preparing for the competition. Multiple veterans joined the drill, while rookies like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and Angel Reese are looking to make their senior-level debuts.
Many of the players came straight from the Unrivaled teams, collaborating together for the national duty. Bueckers earlier left the USA World Cup Qualifiers future wide open, but she joins the squad at the training camp. In a recent interview, the player spoke about her feelings about wearing the USA jersey.
Paige Bueckers Prides Herself Wearing Team USA Jersey
Coach Kara Lawson and Team USA director Sue Bird are looking to take Team USA in a different direction, showing faith and inducting many new faces into the team. While the national side is in a transition phase, the 2025 rookie spoke about the opportunity when asked about wearing the Team USA jersey.
“Every time I step on the court, I feel like I’m representing something much bigger than myself. And then to be able to put USA across your chest — it’s truly an honor,” the former UConn star said.
Paige Bueckers (@paigebueckers1) on wearing the Team USA (@usabasketball) jersey from Hopkins to Dallas to the world stage 🌎🏀
— Rob Tiongson (@RobTiongson) March 7, 2026
"Every time I step on the court, I feel I'm always representing something so much bigger than myself."#TeamUSA #WNBA @DallasWings @ThePodiumFinish pic.twitter.com/9KcgKawYYP
The player also hailed her previous teams, Hopkins, UConn, and Dallas Wings, mentioning that each stop in her journey meant so much to her and thanked the people who helped her to become the player she is now.
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Team USA will enter the competition as defending champions and one of the most successful teams with 11 titles. They have won four championships in a row and are aiming for the fifth one with another talented roster.
Paige Bueckers Ready Challenge
During the December training camp, Bueckers delivered a heartfelt shoutout to the class of 2020 teammates at Team USA Camp. While they already played for the national side at the U16 and U19 levels, playing at the senior level is altogether a different vibe and challenge. The Wings’ guard embraces the tough competition ahead.
“Having played FIBA before, it’s a different brand of basketball. It’s very physical, very competitive, and people are representing their country. So they’re obviously playing with a lot of passion, joy, and fire,” Bueckers said.
Bueckers won the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, the 2018 U17 World Cup, and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. She even earned the MVP honor at the 2019 U19 World Cup in Bangkok. It’s fair to say that the champion on the court is ready to collect her first senior-level title.