Following the announcement that Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will not be part of Team USA during the April training camp, the group will rely on players who have been there for a while. A’ja Wilson remains one of the most dominant players in the world, Sabrina Ionescu controls the pace from the guard position, and Napheesa Collier brings that consistent balance on both ends of the floor. The team maintains its experience and builds on continuity.
What their absence from Team USA really means
That said, Clark and Reese not being part of this camp doesn’t mean they’re out of the program. They remain two of the most important faces of today’s WNBA and even more so of the future of women’s basketball. But at this specific moment, with the league evolving through new contracts and a new structure, their absence feels more like a matter of timing than anything else.
The WNBAis entering a new phase after signing its collective bargaining agreement for the 2026-2032 period, a deal that essentially redefines the league. The team salary cap jumps to around $7 million in 2026, compared to just over $1 million not long ago. The minimum salary rises significantly to $300,000, and top contracts can reach close to $1.4 million per season.
Players now have better conditions across the board: pregnancy protections, full pay during maternity leave, expanded mental health support, more guaranteed contracts per team, and improved travel conditions including individual hotel rooms and the ability for their children to travel with them.
And these new rights in the collective agreement go far beyond any per-game bonus. They mean players are truly protected and able to be with their loved ones, especially their children. That can have a direct impact on their performance not as a distraction, but as one less concern, knowing they’re close.
Individual hotel rooms, as part of the travel improvements, also bring a greater sense of personal freedom. It’s not that sharing is wrong, but having your own space is simply more comfortable and personal.
The league continues to expand, with new teams entering the picture and a stronger overall structure that reflects the real growth of interest in women’s basketball. And a big part of that comes from the new generation players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers and Kamilla Cardoso along with many recent arrivals who are reshaping the direction of professional basketball in the U.S. and making an impact internationally.
The absence of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese from Team USA’s training camp is part of that bigger picture, a strategic approach that ensures the national team doesn’t rely on just one generation.
Preseason is just a month away, set to begin on April 25, with matchups that include Clark’s Indiana Fever facing the New York Liberty, while Reese’s Chicago Sky will take on the Phoenix Mercury.
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