USA are heading into the BWF World Championships 2026 with renewed optimism, as a talented group of doubles players continue to make significant progress on the international circuit.
For years, Beiwen Zhang was the country’s main representative at major badminton events. While Zhang remains a strong contender in women’s singles, USA’s biggest recent gains have come in the doubles disciplines, with five emerging pairs increasingly capable of challenging established opponents.
Their progress is reflected in the World Championships seedings. Presley Smith/Jennie Gai are seeded No.14 in mixed doubles, while Lauren Lam/Allison Lee are No.16 in women’s doubles. Although Chen Zhi Yi/Presley Smith, Francesca Corbett/Jennie Gai and Chen Zhi Yi/Francesca Corbett are unseeded, they are also considered capable of making a deep run.
USA’s rise has been particularly noticeable in their results against higher-ranked opposition. At the Japan Open, Lam/Lee stunned world No.3 Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee in the second round, while Chen/Smith recorded impressive victories over Junaidi Arif/Yap Roy King and Daniel Lundgaard/Mads Vestergaard.
Smith/Gai have also shown their potential throughout the season. They reached the Malaysia Open quarterfinals after defeating Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai Jemie and later pushed several of the world’s leading pairs in close contests. The world No.17 duo also reached three consecutive World Tour semifinals during the middle part of the season.
Corbett/Gai produced one of their biggest wins at the Indonesia Open, where they defeated fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian in the opening round. They have since continued to challenge some of the world’s strongest combinations, demonstrating that a breakthrough could be just around the corner.
The rise of these players has also been helped by their different backgrounds and experiences. Some excelled at junior level, while others moved abroad at a young age or transitioned from singles to doubles. Their development has now begun to come together at the senior level.
With the LA 2028 Olympics approaching, the timing could hardly be better for USA badminton. The World Championships in New Delhi provide an opportunity for the players to test themselves against the best without carrying the pressure of being among the favourites.
Lam believes the victory over Baek/Lee has given her and Lee a glimpse of what they could achieve if they continue improving.
The players have also credited their growing experience and improved mental approach for their progress. Rather than overthinking during matches, they are learning to stay composed, enjoy the game and focus on the moment.
Lam and Lee will enter the World Championships after training with a university team in Korea, while the USA squad continues to benefit from support from their coaches and Yonex USA.
Although the players remain cautious about making bold predictions, their recent results suggest USA are no longer simply participants at major championships. With several pairs now seeded or close to the seeded positions, they have genuine opportunities to reach the latter stages in New Delhi.
And with LA 2028 on the horizon, this could be just the beginning of a promising new era for American badminton.
