By Ed Condran
It’s a good hand for the Las Vegas Aces, who are sending four players to the Summer Olympics in Paris, France. USA Basketball announced that The Aces’ Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young are part of the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s National Team. The talent-laden squad will compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games set for July 26 to Aug. 11 in the French capital.
The four Aces will play with Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Cooper (Phoenix Mercury), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun).
The U.S. squad is a dream team that possesses a combined 15 Olympic gold medals, 18 FIBA World Cup titles and 55 WNBA All-Star appearances. The team also includes eight WNBA champions and three WNBA MVPs. The Aces are the current and back-to-back WNBA champions.
“We have selected a team that we are confident will represent our country to the highest standard in Paris,” USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee Chairwoman Jen Rizzotti said.
“Basketball in the United States boasts unparalleled depth, making this a challenging and competitive process. The commitment these athletes have shown to USA Basketball is unmatched, and I look forward to watching them take on the world in Paris.”
Wilson, as usual, will be a focal point during the Olympic Games. The two-time MVP is counted on to make a huge impact. Wilson is typically up to the task. Wilson recently passed Sophia Young Malcolm’s franchise record of 4,300 points. Wilson is proud to be the Aces’ points leader.
“It means the world,” Wilson told ESPN post-game. “It’s a special moment.” Ever the team player, Wilson was unaware that she was about to become the leader in points.
“I didn’t even know, honestly, until about the third quarter. Sydney (Colson) actually told me, she was like, ‘Come on, this is your chance, you don’t want to do it away, you want to do it at home.’ And I was like, ‘That is right.’ ”
Wilson and her Olympic teammates – among them Aces’s teammate Plum, who has 2020 Olympic gold from the debut of Women’s 3×3 Basketball – will have to do it away as the squad hopes to bring gold back to the United States. Expectations will be high.
The U.S. Women’s Basketball team is one of the most dominant in all Olympic sports, with a 70-3 record in Olympic play, and a record seven consecutive titles. They have no Olympic losses since 1992 and no losses in any tournament since 2006.
More (including the schedule): Olympics.com
