Rae Burrell added to U.S. women's basketball roster for Puerto Rico qualifier
Rae Burrell and Monique Billings join the U.S. women's national team for a FIBA World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico, replacing Aliyah Boston and Sonia Citron.
Rae Burrell, a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks and Vinyl BC, was added to the U.S. women's national team roster for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico, replacing Aliyah Boston and Sonia Citron. She played college basketball at Tennessee and was a standout at Liberty High School in Nevada.
Rae Burrell and Monique Billings were added to the U.S. women’s basketball roster for a FIBA World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico. Burrell is a professional guard who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA and also competes for Vinyl BC in the Unrivaled league, having previously starred at the University of Tennessee and Liberty High School in Nevada. She was named 2018 Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year and debuted with Vinyl BC in 2025. The qualifier matters now because the United States women’s team, which includes Burrell and Caitlin Clark, went undefeated in the 2026 qualifying window, underscoring her role on a roster reshaped by recent replacements.
Roster changes ahead of qualifier
Monique Billings and Rae Burrell were added to the U.S. women's basketball roster for a FIBA World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico, replacing Aliyah Boston and Sonia Citron. The move was confirmed by U.S. Basketball.
Burrell, a 25‑year‑old American forward, joins the national team after playing for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA and for Vinyl BC in the Unrivaled league. She starred at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, earning Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year in 2018, and played college basketball at Tennessee.
Billings, also a professional forward, has previously played for several WNBA teams and internationally. Both players are expected to bolster the roster for the qualifier, which forms part of the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup qualifying window. Their inclusion follows a 5‑0 run by Team USA in earlier qualifiers that featured Caitlin Clark.
Burrell was named the Las Vegas Review-Journal Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year while attending Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada.
Vinyl BC, the Unrivaled league team Burrell plays for, made its debut; the Miami-based club is coached by Teresa Weatherspoon.
Burrell played for Vinyl BC against Phantom BC in an Unrivaled 3-on-3 semifinal, defending Kelsey Plum.
Burrell and Monique Billings were added to the U.S. women's roster for a World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico, replacing Aliyah Boston and Sonia Citron.
Team USA, with Burrell and Caitlin Clark contributing, went undefeated (5-0) during the qualifying event.
A comment by Caitlin Clark about Burrell's feet in the Team USA locker room circulated widely online.
Burrell's club background
Rae Burrell joins the U.S. women's roster for the Puerto Rico FIBA World Cup qualifier after a season in which she plays for the Los Angeles Sparks and competes for Vinyl BC in the Unrivaled league. Vinyl BC, a Miami‑based club that entered the league in 2025, is coached by Teresa Weatherspoon. She began her college career at the University of Tennessee before playing high school basketball at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where she earned the Las Vegas Review‑Journal Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year in 2018. Her professional trajectory also includes stints with the Sparks, where she started and contributed 13 points against the Chicago Sky, and appearances that drew attention for her pregame attire.
Performance highlights
Rae Burrell started and scored 13 points for the Los Angeles Sparks in a game against the Chicago Sky. Pre‑game attire before matches versus the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and Dallas Wings drew attention. She also played for Vinyl BC in an Unrivaled 3‑on‑3 semifinal against Phantom BC, where she defended Kelsey Plum.
Burrell logged 13 points and a starting role in the Sparks’ matchup versus the Chicago Sky, a performance that reinforced her standing on the roster. She wore a striking ensemble before the game against the New York Liberty, then repeated the focus on attire for the Phoenix Mercury contest, and again before the Dallas Wings game, each look drawing social media notice. In the Unrivaled league, she suited up for Vinyl BC in a 3‑on‑3 semifinal versus Phantom BC, tasked with defending Kelsey Plum, and helped the team secure a win that highlighted her defensive versatility. Her continued presence on the U.S. qualifier pool, alongside Monique Billings, reflects the coaching staff’s confidence in her recent club form and WNBA contributions. The attention on her pre‑game outfits and on‑court impact underscores a broader narrative of player branding intersecting with competitive readiness.
International competition
During the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup qualifying window, Team USA posted a 5-0 record. Caitlin Clark and Rae Burrell were among the players on the roster. The United States replaced Aliyah Boston and Sonia Citron with Monique Billings and Rae Burrell for the qualifier in Puerto Rico. Reports did not specify why Boston and Citron were removed. The squad’s strong performance secured a spot in the next phase of World Cup qualification.
Frequently asked questions
When was Rae Burrell named Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year?
Rae Burrell was named the Las Vegas Review-Journal Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year in 2018 while attending Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada.
Which WNBA team does Rae Burrell play for?
Rae Burrell plays for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. She also played college basketball at the University of Tennessee.
What team does Rae Burrell play for in the Unrivaled league?
Rae Burrell plays for Vinyl BC in the Unrivaled basketball league. The Miami-based team debuted in 2025 and is coached by Teresa Weatherspoon.
When did Rae Burrell score 13 points in a WNBA game?
Rae Burrell started and scored 13 points in a WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Chicago Sky. This performance was noted during the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying period.
Who are Rae Burrell's teammates on the Los Angeles Sparks?
Rae Burrell played alongside Dearica Hamby on both the Los Angeles Sparks and the Unrivaled team Vinyl BC. She also played with Caitlin Clark during the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup qualifiers.
