Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon is standing behind A’ja Wilson following criticism surrounding the reigning WNBA MVP’s decision to withdraw from Team USA’s 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup roster.
Asked about Wilson’s health and the criticism surrounding her decision to miss the tournament, Hammon made it clear that she believes Wilson has every right to prioritize her health.
“A’ja has every right to do what she feels is best health wise,” Hammon said.
Hammon also pushed back on what she sees as a double standard when it comes to women athletes choosing when to represent their national teams.
“If this was a man, there would be nothing to say.”
Wilson’s withdrawal has generated significant discussion because of her status as one of the faces of USA Basketball and one of the biggest stars in the WNBA. She was part of the U.S. teams that won Olympic gold in 2021 and 2024 and was the MVP of the 2024 Olympic tournament.
Team USA entered the 2026 FIBA World Cup without both Wilson and Kelsey Plum, with both players stepping away for health-related reasons.
The controversy surrounding Wilson has intensified in recent days, with outside speculation attempting to assign additional motivations to her decision despite the official explanation being health-related.
Hammon’s message is straightforward: Wilson’s health comes first.
And from Hammon’s perspective, the scrutiny directed toward Wilson raises a larger question about whether female athletes are held to a different standard when they choose to prioritize their health over international competition.
Do you agree with Becky Hammon?
