WNBA stars like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are in Durham, North Carolina this weekend participating in training camp for the USA Basketball women’s national team. Managing director Sue Bird is on hand to watch as new head coach Kara Lawson evaluates the group of 18 young players hoping to make the final roster for the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in March.
Reese earned the invite after her second WNBA season with the Chicago Sky. The team missed the playoffs, but Reese took her game to a new level by improving her ability to facilitate the offense as the Sky dealt with major injuries at the point guard position. The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
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“In the world of women’s basketball, we’re seeing a lot of different players expand what their position can do,” Bird said of Reese’s development, per basketball reporter Geoff Magliocchetti. “I think it’s really valuable … to see Angel put that in her package is great for her.”
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) during a WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun.© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Angel Reese Arrives at Team USA Training Camp
There was a notable change waiting for Reese, who wears No. 5 for Chicago, when she arrived in Durham on Thursday. For the national team, she was given the No. 25 jersey for the weekend. The social media idol shared her reaction with her 6 million followers on TikTok.
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“I’m number 25 for the weekend,” Reese said. “Y’all see the five.”
Reese seemed to be taking the new look in stride, pointing out that the No. 5 was still present on her United States uniform. It was the last scene in her full TikTok video from the day of her arrival.
She also told her fans, “I’m not sure when I’m going to see y’all again,” signing off as she got locked in for the weekend of hoops with some of the best women’s basketball players in the country.
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Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark Get New Jersey Numbers
According to the full list of jersey numbers obtained by the Indy Star, returning 2024 Olympic gold medalist Kelsey Plum will wear Reese’s preferred No. 5 during the USA Basketball training camp. Plum wears No. 10 for her WNBA team, the Los Angeles Sparks.
Reese wore No. 10 throughout her time in college, first for the Maryland Terrapins and then for the LSU Tigers. That number is unassigned for this weekend’s training camp. She wore No. 10 in her last appearance for Team USA at the 2023 Women’s AmeriCup, after wearing No. 39 in training camp.
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The Sky star is not the only player on the roster to diverge from a well-known jersey number. Clark, who wears No. 22 for the Indiana Fever and had the same number retired by the Iowa Hawkeyes, will wear No. 17 with the national team this weekend — even though No. 22 is unassigned. It will mark Clark’s return to basketball, having last played on July 15 for the Fever before a groin injury ended her WNBA season.
It all goes to show that the jersey numbers for training camp are mostly meaningless and have no bearing on who wears what when the final roster comes out. For all 18 players in Durham, the most important thing is representing the three letters on the front of the jersey.
Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Message to Indiana Fever Teammate Ahead of Return to Basketball
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
