Dawn Staley addresses media speculation regarding A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark

Dawn Staley publicly challenged media comments suggesting that A’ja Wilson is absent from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup due to the presence of teammate Caitlin Clark. Former ESPN sportscaster Linda Cohn recently speculated that Wilson withdrew to avoid the focus surrounding Clark. Staley refuted this claim on social media, emphasizing that Wilson’s absence is strictly due to previously noted health concerns. Team USA opened its FIBA World Cup campaign with a win over China as the roster continues to integrate younger players including Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. Wilson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, remains a central figure for the national program despite her current unavailability for the tournament.

• 6:10 AMYahoo Sports — Dawn Staley claps back at media over A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark comments