Chicago Sky star Angel Reese will make her Team USA debut alongside fellow WNBA standouts Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers tonight, March 11, 2026. After wrapping up season 2 of Unrivaled, Reese and many other WNBA players packed their bags and headed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. Angel Reese is one of six athletes making their national team debut, which has sent a wave of excitement through basketball fans online, many of whom are eager to see the LSU alum shine on the main stage.
Angel Reese Is Gearing Up To Make Her National Team Debut Alongside WNBA Stars, Including Caitlin Clark
While the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany, is in September, Reese and several others will lace up their sneakers for the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers from March 11 to 17. The team, according to USA Basketball, will feature a mix of notable players, including veterans Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, and sensational young players, including Clark, Bueckers, and, of course, Reese.
Reese, known for her elite rebounding skills, will surely bring an edge to the national team on the hardwood. While speaking with the media during USA basketball practice, Reese opened up about how much the opportunity means to her, calling it an “honor.”
“… being able to know this is a lifelong dream for me,” she said, according to Swish Appeal.
Angel Reese Has Dreams Of Playing For Team USA In The Olympics In 2028
While Reese and the rest of Team USA have a while to go before being named to the Olympic roster for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California, making that team is another goal Reese hopes to accomplish.
“Just steps to 2028,” Reese said about her upcoming FIBA appearance. “I mean, that’s a big goal for me. So just continuing to take these small steps and continue to learn and grow.”
Reese then spoke about playing for coaches like Kara Lawson, Nate Tibbetts, and Sue Bird, calling their approach to player development “amazing” before expressing her desire to continue to grow those relationships.
Angel Reese Isn’t Worried About The Noise… She’s Focused On Doing What She Can For Team USA
Securing her position on the national team was no easy feat for Reese. Over the years, the women’s national team has been stacked with standout players, including Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, and 4-time league MVP A’ja Wilson.
A roster like that is hard to live up to, but Reese said in a recent interview that she isn’t trying to model her game after any one player and is instead focused on contributing to the team as a whole.
“Everybody’s not going to be able to score 20. So just being able to come in here and find my niche of what I can do specifically that I can impart ways for everyone else that I know that I can always bring to the table is going to be a big part of my life,” she said.
Reese Said She And The Younger Team USA Players Are Continuing To Learn From The Veterans
That doesn’t mean Reese isn’t learning from the veterans. According to the Indy Star, she is relying on as many experienced Team USA players as possible.
“There are a lot of new faces here, but we can rely a lot on our vets,” she said, “because they have been in the moment and they have this experience.”
Reese went on to share that while she’s “looking forward” to her big debut, she can’t wait for the roles to be reversed so she can be a “good example” to other players.
Social Media Users Are Beyond Excited To See Reese Make Her Team USA Debut
USA Basketball has shared behind-the-scenes photos of Reese and other Team USA players preparing for the start of the FIBA tournament.
In one video montage, viewers could see Reese posing for her official Team USA headshots, while another introduced the LSU alum to the world as No. 9.
The social media posts caused much excitement online, with one user calling Reese the “greatest rebounder in WNBA history.” At the same time, another said Reese was in elite company, sharing a Team USA number with greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Leslie.
Other users also got in on the fun, with one sharing “USA BARBBBBB” and another posting “Overly tea.”
