Atlanta Dream stars Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese were named to the 12-player USA Basketball Women’s National Team roster on August 6, becoming the first pair of Dream players in franchise history to simultaneously represent the United States at a 5-on-5 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup or Olympic Games, with the tournament set for September 4 through 13 in Berlin.
Key Takeaways
- Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese are the first Atlanta Dream duo in franchise history to be selected together for the USA Basketball Women’s National Team at a 5-on-5 FIBA World Cup or Olympic Games.
- Howard, a four-time WNBA All-Star, is averaging 17.0 points per game this season while leading the WNBA in steals; Reese is averaging a league-leading double-double and pacing the league in rebounding.
- Both players helped Team USA qualify for the World Cup during the qualifying tournament in March, where the U.S. posted a 5-0 record in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- The 12-player roster also includes Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum; Team USA is pursuing its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal and 12th overall.
- The U.S. has been drawn into Group D alongside China, Czechia, and Italy, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the knockout stages.
The Selections Rewrite the Dream’s National Team Record
The Atlanta Dream confirmed that Howard and Reese are only the second and third players in franchise history to represent the organization on Team USA at either a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup or an Olympic Games. No previous Dream roster had placed two players on the national team at the same time, making the simultaneous selection a milestone for a franchise that has steadily built its competitive profile over the past two seasons.
Howard’s selection reflects a deep history within the USA Basketball pipeline. The four-time WNBA All-Star has won three gold medals across U18, U19, and AmeriCup competitions and earned a bronze medal in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Howard returned to the national team in March for the qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she averaged 10.0 points per game as Team USA went undefeated across five games to secure its spot in Berlin. Her 2026 WNBA season has been among the strongest of her career: Howard is averaging 17.0 points per game while leading the league in steals and ranking among the league leaders in three-pointers made.
Reese Earns Her First World Cup Roster After a Record-Setting WNBA Season in Atlanta
The World Cup roster marks Angel Reese’s first selection to a USA Basketball Women’s National Team for a senior-level global tournament. Reese made her senior national team debut during the March qualifying tournament, where she averaged 6.8 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game. Her prior USA Basketball experience includes a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
Reese’s case for the roster was built on a 2026 WNBA season that has produced historic individual numbers. In her first season with the Atlanta Dream, Reese is averaging a league-leading double-double while pacing the WNBA in both rebounding and double-doubles recorded. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds, a milestone that underscored the pace at which she has established herself as one of the league’s dominant interior presences. The three-time WNBA All-Star’s ability to control the glass and generate second-chance opportunities has been a defining feature of Atlanta’s play this season.
The Full Roster Blends Veteran World Cup Experience With Seven Debutantes
USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird announced the 12-player roster, which features five players with prior World Cup gold medal experience and seven who will make their World Cup debuts in Berlin. The roster includes A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, two of the most decorated players in the history of the U.S. women’s national program, alongside Kelsey Plum, whose perimeter scoring and playmaking add a different dimension to the backcourt. Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, both of whom transitioned from record-setting college careers into immediate WNBA impact, are among the seven first-time World Cup participants.
Team USA enters the tournament pursuing its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal and 12th overall in the history of the event. The Americans have been drawn into Group D for the group stage, where they will face China, Czechia, and Italy. The top three teams from each of the four groups advance to the knockout rounds. The tournament format creates a compressed schedule, with group play and elimination rounds spanning just 10 days from September 4 through 13. Berlin will host the event as the largest FIBA Women’s World Cup in the tournament’s history.
Howard and Reese Have Reshaped the Dream’s Identity as a Dual Franchise Centerpiece
The national team selections add another layer to the partnership that has defined Atlanta’s 2026 season. Howard, a wing who operates as both a primary scorer and perimeter defender, and Reese, a power forward whose rebounding and physicality anchor the interior, have given the Dream a two-player core that functions on complementary sides of the court. Howard’s ability to create offense in isolation and off movement has opened driving lanes and second-chance opportunities that Reese converts at a high rate.
The on-court chemistry between the two has also extended to public visibility. Reese posted on social media following the roster announcement that she was grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside Howard for a gold medal. The Dream’s official account shared a video capturing the moment the team learned that both players had made the roster. For a franchise that has historically operated in the shadow of Atlanta’s NFL, MLB, and college football programs, placing two players on the national team at the same time represents a step in establishing the Dream as a year-round presence in the city’s sports conversation. The World Cup, played during the final weeks of the WNBA regular season, will require both players to balance national team duties with their responsibilities to Atlanta’s playoff positioning.
FAQs
When and Where Is the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup?
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will be held September 4 through 13 in Berlin, Germany. It is the largest FIBA Women’s World Cup in the tournament’s history. Team USA has been drawn into Group D alongside China, Czechia, and Italy.
How Many Atlanta Dream Players Have Represented Team USA Before?
Howard and Reese are only the second and third players in Atlanta Dream franchise history to represent the team on the USA Basketball Women’s National Team at a FIBA World Cup or Olympic Games. They are the first Dream duo to be selected simultaneously for either event.
What Are Howard and Reese Averaging This WNBA Season?
Rhyne Howard is averaging 17.0 points per game while leading the WNBA in steals and ranking among the league leaders in three-pointers made. Angel Reese is averaging a league-leading double-double and pacing the WNBA in both rebounding and total double-doubles recorded.
