USA Bass Team

KVD announces USA Bass Team Pairings!!!

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We are proud to announce that Dustin Connell is returning as a member of TEAM USA for the 2026 Black Bass World Championship! A proven champion on both the national and international stage, Dustin brings an incredible résumé and a wealth of experience to Team USA. He is a 3× REDCREST Champion, a 2023 World Championship Gold Medalist, and a 9-time career winner with 35 career Top 10 finishes and more than $3 million in career earnings. Welcome back, Dustin!

A longtime Team USA veteran is headed back to the world stage! 7X World Championship medalist Scott Martin brings 26 years of professional experience, 9 tour-level wins and more than $3 million in career earnings to the 2026 Black Bass World Championship in Hot Springs! Let’s go!

Next up on the 2026 USA Bass Team is Drew Gill! A 2025 double gold medalist, 2024 BPT Rookie of the Year, five-time tour-level winner and 2024 BPT Angler of the Year runner-up. Drew has already earned more than $1.4 million with 43 tour-level Top 10 finishes all at just 24 years old. He’s ready to represent Team USA once again in Hot Springs!

Mike McNett our Fresh Water Director is enjoying his time in Africa visiting Clint Skinner from Major League Fishing Zimbabwe. 5kg (11.02lb) bass off the bank while walking with various african game...

Trip made possible by Firehook app. (The red logo on Mikes shirt) and Auto.

Next up in our USA Bass Team introductions is Dakota Ebare! A two-time MLF champion with 38 tour-level Top 10 finishes, more than $1 million in career earnings before age 30 and the MLF record for the largest smallmouth ever weighed, Dakota is ready to represent Team USA at the 2026 Black Bass World Championship on Lake Hamilton!

Next up for Team USA is Ott DeFoe 🙌
Ott was the 2019 Bassmaster Classic champion and 2011 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year. DeFoe is a 2025 Team USA Bass double gold medalist with seven national tour-level victories, 61 Top 10 finishes, and back-to-back MLF Selects championships in 2015 and 2016.

It’s time to introduce our 2026 USA Bass Team and we’re starting strong with a man who needs no introduction. Kevin VanDam is a 4X Bassmaster Classic champion, 8X Angler of the Year, 2018 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee, and 2025 Team USA coach and gold medalist. Now, KVD is ready to help defend the gold on home soil in Hot Springs, Arkansas! 🇺🇸