A’ja Wilson’s absence from Team USA was one of the major storylines surrounding the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. She was widely expected to be part of Team USA’s pursuit of another gold medal, but she withdrew just days before the tournament because of health concerns. And while Wilson has since offered more insight into why she made that decision, that has done little to quiet the debate among fans.
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In a recent interview with Brandy Flores, Wilson was asked about Becky Hammon’s comments regarding making sure she was ready for the playoffs and whether skipping the World Cup was partly about getting healthy for the postseason.
“It was a major decision. I don’t even think necessarily was getting ready for the postseason,” the Las Vegas Aces star said. “It was just taking care of my body and what I need to do. This ball is gonna stop bouncing eventually, and I want to make sure that I at least feel good in that. So I don’t think I was thinking too much of like, ‘Oh, I got to get ready for playoffs.’ It’s more like, ‘I just don’t feel well.’ And if I can’t give myself 100%, I feel like I robbed not only my teammates, but wearing that uniform, that USA uniform. So I didn’t want to do that. So yeah, I think that was the biggest thing. It’s just not feeling like a 100%.”
Her decision to sit out came with plenty of scrutiny, but for some fans, A’ja Wilson shouldn’t have had to explain why she made that choice.
“Our humble Q’ueen doesn’t owe a single explanation. Aces time again with a rested/healthy A’ja…Aces in 4,” one fan wrote under an X post shared by ESPN 1100/100.9 FM. “A’ja you don’t have to explain yourself…. Fk all that got something to say,” another fan added.
When Team USA announced that the two-time World Cup and two-time Olympic gold medalist would not participate in the tournament, the official release did not specify the nature of her health concerns. That left plenty of room for theories.
Some suggested A’ja Wilson wanted to prioritize Las Vegas’ pursuit of another championship. Others connected her absence to the WNBA MVP race. One of the more controversial theories came from former ESPN host Linda Cohn, who speculated that Wilson may have wanted to avoid being overshadowed by Caitlin Clark and the attention surrounding the Indiana Fever star.
Cohn’s comments drew significant backlash, but the speculation surrounding Wilson’s withdrawal continued. And even her latest explanation has not completely put those questions to rest.
“Yet 2 days before going she played 30 mins more than anyone from both teams for her stats,” one fan wrote. “Pretty sure everyone of the 12 players had bumps and pains and still represented and played. Weak ass excuse,” another added.
A report from ESPN at that time revealed that the 30-year-old had been experiencing trouble with her back and had not been at 100% for some time. She also appeared on the injury report twice in August.
So the skepticism largely comes down to the timing. Wilson had continued to perform at an elite level for the Aces despite the physical issues she was dealing with. A’ja Wilson recorded 275 points, 97 rebounds, and 23 blocks while posting a +83 plus-minus in August, as she continued to serve as the Aces’ two-way anchor while strengthening her case in the MVP conversation. But strong performances do not necessarily tell the full story of how a player is feeling physically, particularly when the decision involves committing to another demanding tournament.
That said, even without her, the Americans went on to win all six of their games in Germany and captured their fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup gold medal.
So one fan wrote, “They won easily without her and drew insane ratings! LMAO Nobody f**kin cares!!😂😂.”
The WNBA regular season is all set to resume on September 17, and A’ja Wilson is now feeling good as the Aces aim to secure another championship.
“Feeling good. I’m feeling right where I need to be. Physically, I think it’s something that you just – it’s a mental game. So I feel like I’m in a good space,” Wilson said.
Her decision will remain a point of debate, but with the Aces star now feeling healthy, the focus will soon shift back to what she does on the court.