What happened: Whitcomb earned MVP honors at Australia’s March qualifying tournament in Istanbul. The veteran is set for her third consecutive World Cup appearance.
Why it matters: Her selection gives Australia its qualifying-tournament MVP for a group featuring Belgium, Puerto Rico and Türkiye. Group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-place teams enter a playoff round.
By the numbers: Whitcomb averaged 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists across five qualifying games as Australia went 5-0.
What to watch: Australia opens against Puerto Rico on Sept. 4 before facing Türkiye and Belgium.