Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers has joined the USA Basketball training camp in Durham, North Carolina, marking her first appearance with the senior national team as a professional. The camp prepares the team for the 2026 Women's World Cup and potentially the 2028 Olympics. Bueckers expressed excitement about representing her country alongside top talents.
Paige Bueckers, the Dallas Wings guard, arrived in Durham, North Carolina, on December 12, 2025, for the USA Basketball women's training camp. This event serves as preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, scheduled for September 4-13 in Germany. It also positions participants for possible selection to the 2028 Olympics roster. For Bueckers, this marks her first time representing the USA at any level in six years and her debut as a professional athlete.
The camp features 18 players, including several making their Senior National Team debut. Notable attendees include Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Sonia Citron, Aliyah Boston, and Chelsea Gray, along with college standouts Lauren Betts and JuJu Watkins. Sue Bird, a legendary point guard and the team's managing director, is overseeing the evaluations.
Bueckers described the experience as surreal. "It's pretty surreal," she told CT Insider. "To be back here representing my country in a way where this is every kid's dream, to be able to do that at the highest level on the national team, and to get that invite, it meant a whole lot. And it's truly an honor just to grow up watching all the legends before me play and represent the country in a great way and bring back that gold. It's something you aspire to be."
She highlighted the opportunity to learn from elite players and coaches. "There's so many great players here, and then the coaching staff as well," Bueckers said. "There's so many great people you can learn from. So, to be able to be here, build relationships, compete -- I think that's the highest form of respect, is to compete. And I think that's what we're all here to do, is compete, make each other better, learn each other, learn how to play with and off of each other, and learn what the USA basketball system is all about at the national team level."
The United States enters as favorites, having won gold at the 2024 Olympics by defeating France 67-66 in the final. With emerging stars like Bueckers gaining professional experience, the team aims to continue its dominance.
