The United States women’s basketball team has dominated its opponents for most of the past decade.
The team has won seven consecutive Olympic gold medals, and the Americans are the favorite to win again this summer in Paris.
Twelve experienced players will represent the United States this summer. They own a combined 15 Olympic gold medals, 18 FIBA Women’s World Cup titles, and 55 WNBA All-Star appearances.
The United States opens Group C play against Japan on July 29, followed by games against Belgium on Aug. 1 and Germany on Aug. 4. The Americans have a combined 29–2 overall record against their Group C opponents.
China has the second-best odds to medal behind the United States, followed by Australia.
“I think the most successful U.S. basketball teams have utilized their depth,” U.S. Coach Cheryl Reeve said in a pre-Olympics press conference. “I want to make sure that is going to be the mark of this team.”
Reeve is also the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA.
Diana Taurasi, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, is the most decorated player on the U.S. roster. Taurasi is competing in her sixth straight Olympic games and has played more games (38) than any other women’s player in USA Basketball Olympic history. Taurasi is second in all-time points scored with 414, trailing only Lisa Leslie with 488.
“When you put on that jersey, there’s so much that comes with it,” Taurasi told Fox 61 in Connecticut. “You’re representing the game of basketball for everyone who loves it in this country, whether you play it at the highest level or at the park. There’s so much honor and pride in being a first-generation immigrant. It’s the American dream, and I think that resonates with a lot of people in this country.”
In addition to Taurasi, the 2024 team consists of 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).
Collier, Gray, Griner, Loyd, Stewart, Taurasi, and Wilson earned the gold medal in Tokyo at the 2020 Olympic Games. Plum and Young won gold in Tokyo as members of the U.S.A. 3x3 Women’s National Team.
Copper, Gray, Ionescu, Loyd, Plum, Stewart, Thomas, and Wilson were all members of the 2022 USA women’s national team, which won its 11th World Cup gold medal in Sydney. The World title also qualified the USA for the Paris Games.
For just the second time in the history of USA Women’s Basketball, every member of the Olympic team has either an Olympic or World Cup gold medal, joining the 2012 squad. The team also has eight WNBA champions, three WNBA most valuable players, and five WNBA rookies of the year.
“This roster features some of the best basketball talent our country has to offer, and I’m excited to lead this team with the goal of winning an eighth straight Olympic gold medal in Paris,” Reeve said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to getting together in Phoenix and starting the journey to Paris.”
However, one of the most discussed decisions was to leave WNBA rookie phenom Caitlin Clark off the roster. Clark finished her college career as the top scorer in men’s and women’s college basketball history with 3,951 points and was a two-time NCAA women’s basketball player of the year. It was anticipated that Clark would have boosted television ratings for women’s basketball in the Olympics this summer had she been part of the U.S. team.
“I’m excited for the girls that are on the team,” Clark said about the decision. “I know it’s the most competitive team in the world, and I know it could have gone either way of me being on the team or me not being on the team. I’m excited for them. Going to be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics. It'll be fun to watch them.
“I think it just gives you something to work for. It’s a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully, when four years come back, I can be there.”
Reeve will be assisted by Kara Lawson (Duke University), Joni Taylor (Texas A&M University), and Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics). The coaching staff, which led the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee.
Curt Miller (Los Angeles Sparks) and Tanisha Wright (Atlanta Dream) have been hired as the team’s scouts. Both Miller and Wright have been past coaches for the USA Women’s National Team training camps, Miller was an assistant coach at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament and for the USA’s college exhibition wins last fall.
The U.S. will hold a training camp in Phoenix before competing against the WNBA All-Stars in the league’s All-Star Game on Saturday, July 20. The team will travel to London to play the German Women’s National Team at O2 Arena on July 23 as part of the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase.
