#96: Projecting the 2028 Women's Team USA Roster

It's March 13 – three days after the WNBA-imposed CBA deadline. Not that the two sides haven't been working hard or anything. They worked tirelessly the last few days exchanging proposals.

But we still don't have a deal (at least while I'm typing this, but with my luck, one will happen at like 1 a.m. when I'm asleep).

I was holding this space to write about it, but instead, we'll pivot a bit to another big talking point in women's basketball: the 2028 Team USA roster.

The Olympics are (sadly) being held in America (the worst) and one of the talks of Los Angeles is going to be the women's basketball roster and who makes it.

We've seen different iterations of what the team could look like, as they are playing in the FIBA World Cup qualifier now.

The players representing the team are:

• Monique Billings (Aliyah Boston replacement)
• Rae Burrell (Sonia Citron replacement)
• Paige Bueckers
• Caitlin Clark
• Angel Reese
• Kahleah Copper
• Chelsea Gray
• Kelsey Plum
• Jackie Young
• Dearica Hamby
• Rhyne Howard
• Kiki Iriafen

Some new names on the list, while some others are familiar names.

But when the roster is announced, Sue Bird and Kara Lawson can only have 12 players.

So, which 12 will make it?

It's a turning point (I fucking hate that phrase because of Charlie Kirk) for Team USA, as there are a number of veterans with Team USA experience at different levels, competing with up-and-coming stars who didn't make the 2024 team.

Bird has expressed in the past how much she values the Team USA experience, but she also knows that it's about putting the best 12 out there.

So, if I'm Bird and Lawson, here are the 12 that I'm running with.

The Locks
A'ja Wilson
Napheesa Collier
Jackie Young
Paige Bueckers
Breanna Stewart

Outside of injury, there is absolutely zero chance that these five aren't making the team. Zero. A'ja, Phee, and Stewie played a huge part in Team USA capturing gold in 2024. We'll have difficult conversations in 2032, but for now, all three of these are locked-in members and starters.

Should Jackie Young be a surprise here? No, she shouldn't, but because she is the Silent Assassin, her name gets lost sometimes in the conversation. But make no mistake about it – she's an elite-level player who will be there.

And that leaves Paige Bueckers, who is, at worst, a top-10 player in the world with an unlimited ceiling. She does everything well – scores, makes plays, plays great defense. Any level. Any format. Paige is a star.

The Near-Locks
Caitlin Clark
Sabrina Ionescu
Angel Reese
Kahleah Copper
Kelsey Plum

Congrats, Christine Brennan. Caitlin Clark is going to make the Olympic team. Now please, shut the fuck up.

I'm excited to see Clark healthy during this upcoming season. She's a gamechanger on offense with her shot-making ability and court vision. She just needs to clean up her man-to-man defense, her help defense, and her turnovers.

You could argue that Sabrina deserves a spot in the tier above, but this is competition, baby! It's all earned. Still, she has the experience and the youth that Bird wants.

Rebound. Mebound. Gold-bound. Angel is going to give Team USA much-needed depth in the frontcourt off of the bench. Against teams like France, it'll be needed.

As long as Kah is able to get her knees in good enough shape, she will be donning the red white and blue (whole lotta red, yaya) in LA. One of the best downhill scorers in the world.

Plum is another essential lock. She has the experience, has the resume, and is still one of the best pure iso-scorers in the world.

The Last Two
Aliyah Boston
JuJu Watkins

This is where it got tough. You could make an argument for about five different players here, and trimming it down to Aliyah and JuJu was tough.

Aliyah was the first person that I put here. I'm, admittedly, not a fan of her game, but she's taking major strides as an all-around player. Again, frontcourt depth is needed, and she's no longer just a depth player, but a player ready to play major minutes at the next level.

I went with JuJu here over Rhyne Howard. I'm not confident in it, and I actually had Rhy here until I swapped them at the last second.

Ultimately, Rhy can be too inconsistent and shoot her way into slumps – but also set three-point records if she's on.

Where I ultimately landed was treating JuJu like Cooper Flagg here. But unlike Cooper, she'll have a year in the WNBA under her belt to prove herself. But it'll help mold the future of Team USA by having her here as the No. 12 player who can step in when needed, but gets to learn from everyone else so that she, Caitlin, Angel, and Paige can lead the next chapter of Team USA.

Just Missed
Chelsea Gray
Alyssa Thomas
Jewell Loyd
Sonia Citron
Kiki Iriafen
Shakira Austin
Rhyne Howard
Rickea Jackson
Lauren Betts
Dearica Hamby
Cameron Brink

If you want to have Chelsea and Alyssa there in the Diana Taurasi role, I won't argue with you. Both deserve it. It's just rare to see players over 35 in the Olympics is all. I'll never ever bet against either of them.

Please don't hurt me.

With Jewell, this season will be pivotal after her struggles in Unrivaled Year 1 and in Vegas last season.

I could easily see Rhy or Sonia make this team as a three-and-d player, and I'm here for it. Both are elite in those roles.

Rickea is a bucket, but I have to think she's out unless she takes a huge next step this upcoming season. She'll have her chance to make the team.

Thinking of you, Rickea.

That leaves other bigs. Right now, we are guard and wing heavy, so they may opt to go with a Betts, Brink, Iriafen, or Shakira instead of JuJu or Kah. I just can't see it happening.

I'm glad this is just an exercise and not the real thing, because that was stressful.

Until Next Time

NWSL kicks off this weekend, and we have Selection Sunday on Sunday, too. Baseball is around the corner, and we'll have news one way or the other on a WNBA season shortly.

Things are picking up, just as my real-life duties are slowing down.

We are so back, kids.

Fuck ice.

I love you awesome nerds.