A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark Headline Team USA's Training Camp Roster
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVMarch 28, 2024
USA Basketball announced the 14 players it will welcome to training camp in Cleveland, Ohio, in April, in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
A number of stars who helped the United States win gold in the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup were included, with A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum among them.
The inclusion of Iowa star Caitlin Clark was the biggest surprise, though her participation isn't assured. Team USA's training camp runs concurrently with the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA tournament, so Clark could still be vying for a national title with the Hawkeyes.
Even though she has yet to log a minute of pro ball, there's some logic in evaluating Clark with an eye toward the Olympics.
The 22-year-old is the best player in college basketball, leading Division I in points (31.8) and assists (8.8). She has also represented the United States at the youth levels, winning a pair of golds in the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, and figures to be a part of the senior team across multiple Olympic cycles.
Even if she'd only be a reserve, taking Clark to Paris would provide her with more international experience and get her accustomed to the teammates she'd have on Team USA looking at the 2026 World Cup and beyond.
A quick glance at the United States' training camp squad is all that's necessary to see why the team will be the heavy favorite in France, even with the gap closing somewhat between the U.S. and the rest of the world.
Team USA rolled to gold in the 2022 World Cup, a run culminating in a 22-point victory over China in the final. Wilson was brilliant all tournament, averaging 17.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks en route to winning MVP.
The United States will also have the services of Brittney Griner, a luxury it didn't enjoy in the World Cup while she was wrongfully detained in Russia. The Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner didn't miss a beat in her first year back in the WNBA, putting up 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game across 31 appearances.
When you add in the players who stand poised to make their five-on-five Olympic debuts (Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Aliyah Boston, Shakira Austin, Sabrina Ionescu and Rhyne Howard), head coach Cheryl Reeve will have an embarrassment of riches at her disposal.