On Tuesday, USA Basketball announced the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s National Team, which will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, set for July 26-Aug. 11, 2024.
However, the biggest story is who did not make the team. Indiana Fever guard and fan-favorite Caitlyn Clark did not make the roster.
The group that selected the team was led by USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee chair Jennifer Rizzotti, in addition to Rizzotti, Dawn Staley (University of South Carolina), Bethany Donaphin (WNBA) and Dan Padover (Atlanta Dream), as well as athlete representatives Seimone Augustus and DeLisha Milton-Jones.
The argument for Clark is that she’s the most popular women’s basketball player in the world and that she moves the needle, which would help grow the game.
However, according to Rizzotti, the goal is to have the most competitive team.
“It wasn’t the job of our committee to decide how many people would watch,” she said. “It was our job to create the best team.”
The team is highlighted by 12 athletes with extensive USA Basketball experience, including Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), who will make a record sixth straight Olympic appearance, and nine athletes who have already earned at least one Olympic gold medal.
In addition to Taurasi, the 2024 USA Women’s National Team includes Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces).
The squad has a combined 15 Olympic gold medals, 18 FIBA Women’s World Cup titles, and 55 WNBA All-Star appearances. It also boasts eight WNBA champions, three WNBA MVPs, and five WNBA Rookies of the Year.
USA Women’s National Team head coach Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) will be assisted by Kara Lawson (Duke University), Joni Taylor (Texas A&M University), and Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics). The coaching staff, who together led the USA to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee.
Clark is not among the 12 best players at this point, but she is the most popular. When the men’s Dream Team was put together in 1992, Larry Bird was not one of the 12 best players; he played in only 45 regular-season games in 1991-92, so while Clark is not one of the 12 best players, her popularity should be enough.
The 1992 Dream Team grew the game of basketball, and the 2024 Women’s team had a similar opportunity.
Leave a Reply