As the WNBA goes on break, the international stage lights up with the FIBA World Cup. As you would expect with anything women’s basketball, there are some UConn Huskies involved. From Team USA and beyond, these are the UConn alumni to watch for as the tournament gets rolling.
Gabby Williams (France)
The last time all of these teams grouped together for an international tournament, it was Gabby Williams who had the ball in her hands at the final moment of the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal game. With a chance to send it to overtime against the United States, needing a three, the shot went up and in, but her foot was on the line.
Safe to say Gabby Williams will likely have some feelings about getting another shot at the United States at this World Cup. France is the top contender to dethrone the incredible dynasty that is the United States women’s basketball team and Williams is the engine that makes the team go in so many ways.
Williams has upped her game this season after making the offseason move to Golden State and will hope to bring the increase in her offensive production from the WNBA to her France team. Alongside her is a quickly maturing golden generation with players like Dominique Malonga and Carla Leite who will be right by her side to try and make history.
Dorka Juhász (Hungary)
Dorka Juhász will be representing her home country of Hungary in the World Cup in a year of basketball that has seen some incredible highs and some rough lows.
In the WNBA offseason, Juhász suited up for Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring and made history. She would become the youngest-ever EuroLeague Women MVP at 26 years old. Unfortunately after having that high of a season and earning herself that accolade, a foot injury took her out just prior to her team competing in the championship game. That injury would leave her sidelined for the first half of the WNBA season as well.
Since returning to the Lynx line-up Juhász has had moments of production but hasn’t fully hit her stride, understandably so coming back from injury. Playing in this tournament provides a chance for more minutes and the potential for Juhász to work her way back into form ahead of what the Lynx hope will be a WNBA championship winning playoff push in the coming weeks ahead.
Paige Bueckers (United States)
While there is a case for any of Paige Bueckers, Napheesa Collier, or Breanna Stewart, to the Husky you are most excited to watch in this tournament for Team USA, Bueckers has it for me.
We got a sample size of Bueckers with the senior team earlier this year at the World Cup qualifiers in Puerto Rico but seeing her here with this roster in the official tournament is just another step up. Bueckers is perfectly suited for what Team USA asks of players.
Every player on Team USA is a star on their WNBA team but when they all collect on this roster roles are bound to be reduced and changed. It is just the way life goes with the amount of talent at Team USA’s disposal. Bueckers becomes so exciting as a Team USA player because she fits that style perfectly.
As you go through Bueckers’ game there really isn’t anything she can’t go out there and do for you. What we see in Dallas is a player that is asked to be the star on every possession. With Team USA, Bueckers might be asked to be the primary defender of a player, a floor spacer, a pure facilitator, who knows? That is part of what makes it so exciting to watch. We have seen Bueckers do all these things before in different volumes but seeing her do it alongside the other best players Team USA has to offer will be a treat.
