USA Basketball has unveiled a veteran-laden roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics, featuring a squad where every player boasts at least one Olympic or World Cup gold medal.
Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi, making her sixth Olympic appearance, leads the roster. Taurasi has played 38 Olympic basketball games, the most in USA Basketball women’s history, and is second in all-time Olympic points scored (414), trailing only Lisa Leslie (488).
The team, composed entirely of WNBA players, includes Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Brittney Griner (Mercury), Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kelsey Plum (Aces), Breanna Stewart (Liberty), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), A’ja Wilson (Aces), and Jackie Young (Aces). Cheryl Reeve, who has been an assistant coach in the past two Olympics under Geno Auriemma (2016) and Dawn Staley (2020), will serve as the head coach.
“We aimed to provide Cheryl with a team that has experience and familiarity with international competition, a strong understanding of the coaching system, leadership abilities, and depth at every position,” said national team committee chair Jen Rizzotti to The Athletic. “We believe the 12 players selected were the best from a basketball standpoint.”
Notably absent from the roster is collegiate star Caitlin Clark, who led Iowa to consecutive Final Four appearances and is currently in her rookie WNBA season with the Indiana Fever.
“Certainly, Caitlin’s collegiate success and her impressive start in the WNBA were considered in our discussions. However, we maintained our integrity in the selection process, focusing solely on basketball criteria,” Rizzotti explained. “Marketability, popularity, TV viewership, and jersey sales were not factors in our decision-making.”
Clark addressed the decision on Sunday. “Honestly, there’s no disappointment. It just gives me something to strive for. It’s a dream, and I hope to be there one day,” she said. “This is just more motivation. Hopefully, in four years, I’ll have my chance.”
Taurasi, Collier, Gray, Griner, Loyd, Stewart, and Wilson were part of the 2020 Olympics squad that went 6-0 in Japan, securing the gold medal. Wilson and Griner each averaged 16.5 points per game, while Stewart led with 10.0 rebounds per game. Plum and Young also secured gold in Japan, participating in the inaugural three-on-three tournament.
The roster selection committee also included Dawn Staley, WNBA’s Bethany Donaphin, Atlanta Dream general manager Dan Padover, LSU assistant coach Seimone Augustus, and Old Dominion head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones.
The USA women’s team will hold a training camp in Phoenix before playing an exhibition game against a team of WNBA all-stars on July 20. They are also set to play an exhibition game against Germany on July 23 in London.
Team USA will kick off the Olympic group play in Paris against Japan on July 29, followed by matches against Belgium on August 1 and Germany on August 4.
