USA women's basketball roster projection for 2028 Olympics: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese bring their star power to LA

The U.S. women's national team is the gold standard in international basketball. After winning the title at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the program has won eight consecutive Olympic gold medals and will take a 61-game Olympic win streak into the 2028 LA Games.

With the program's excellence in mind, there's no time to remain content with a win in 2024, as the focus will quickly shift to making it nine straight when the United States hosts the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Fortunately for USA Basketball, the future of women's basketball in America is bright.

As a new era of stars dominates the WNBA and NCAA basketball spheres, it's time to break out a crystal ball to predict who will suit up for Team USA during the next Olympics. With the amount of talent present across the board, choosing 12 players is much easier said than done.

Here's a look at who could suit up for the red, white and blue in 2028, with a projection based on roster precedent and what the state of the league should be in four years.

MORE: Team USA wins eighth consecutive Olympic gold in classic thriller

USA women's basketball roster predictions for 2028 Olympics

Guards

Paige Bueckers | Age in 2028: 26

Bueckers would have been a top-three pick in 2024 had she not opted to return to UConn to add to a legacy that already includes a sweep of National Player of the Year awards as a freshman.

With injuries in her rearview, a 26-year-old Bueckers will in her fourth WNBA season and likely will be one of the league's best guards. She's already no stranger to the international game, leading Team USA to U16, U17 and U19 gold.

Caitlin Clark | Age in 2028: 26

After narrowly missing out on a selection in 2024, Clark will be a no-brainer in 2028. How narrowly did she miss out? Former Team USA head coach Dawn Staley even acknowledged that Clark likely would have earned a selection if the 2024 roster was decided upon a few months later than it was.

Clark is already leading the WNBA in assists as a rookie and is the perfect playmaker to set the table for the amount of stars Team USA will send to LA.

MORE: How Caitlin Clark could get a spot on Team USA for 2028 Games

Kahleah Copper | Age in 2028: 33

Copper will be 33 in 2028, but she earns a spot here based on her heroics in the 2024 gold medal game and the program's tendency to call upon veteran players. Her bucket-getting ability should not be overlooked and even if her athleticism dips, her game should age well.

MORE: How Kahleah Copper stepped up to help Team USA capture gold

Sabrina Ionescu | Age in 2028: 30

It was an up-and-down Olympic debut for Ionescu, who hit big shots against Belgium but was out of the rotation during the first half of the gold medal contest with France. She stayed ready, however, and made big plays in the third quarter of the gold medal game, putting her in a position to assume a bigger role in four years.

Arike Ogunbowale | Age in 2028: 31

One of the purest scorers in the league, Ogunbowale removed herself from consideration in 2024 due to nagging injuries, among other things . If 2028 is her final shot, she could jump at an opportunity to add gold medalist to an already impressive championship resume. Team USA should jump at the opportunity to add her, too.

Kelsey Plum | Age in 2028: 33

Plum won 3x3 gold in Tokyo before moving to the 5-on-5 team in Paris. Her one-of-a-kind competitive nature was on full display as she remained calm under pressure down the stretch of the gold medal game. Her willingness to sacrifice was on display throughout the tournament as she embraced multiple defensive assignments.

What Plum brings to the table makes her an ideal pillar of USA Basketball.

Jackie Young | Age in 2028: 30

Once Young settled in, she proved to be the type of player Team USA needs on the FIBA stage. Young was inserted into the starting lineup during the quarterfinals and turned in back-to-back double-digit scoring performances on 66.7 percent shooting from the field. At 30, Young will be just as efficient, if not more so.

Bigs

Aliyah Boston | Age in 2028: 26

Look no further than Boston's standing as a No. 1 pick, 2023 Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star before turning 23 as examples of her star power.

Unlike some of the other potential first-timers, Boston also has experience representing the senior women's national team as she won gold at the 2021 FIBA AmeriCup. I'd expect Boston to have a chance to win Olympic gold after paying her dues during various stops.

Napheesa Collier | Age in 2028: 31

Collier was an important connective piece on the 2024 team, starting in every game while assuming a role much different than the one she takes on in the W with the Lynx.

To reiterate how hard it is to make this roster, Collier is one of just seven members of the 12-player 2024 roster than I envision playing in 2028.

Angel Reese | Age in 2028: 26

Reese gets the nod here, as she's only needed 24 games to establish herself as an elite rebounder at the WNBA level. While there are still some holes in her game, Reese is continuously developing and will be an even more complete player by the time the 2028 Olympics roll around.

Breanna Stewart | Age in 2028: 33

Stewart is a mainstay of the USA Basketball program and has an opportunity to go for a fourth Olympic gold medal in 2028. As one of the program's veteran Stewart's two-way prowess makes her one of the most valuable members of the roster and she will still be efficient and effective at 33.

A'ja Wilson | Age in 2028: 31

In 2024, Wilson is the best player in the world. In 2028, Wilson could very well still be the best player in the world.

With a growing list of accolades to her name, Wilson is on a real GOAT trajectory and another opportunity to win Olympic gold would only add to that case.

First players out

The following section includes potential first-timers who could just miss the cut in 2028. This is based on the belief that Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Jewell Loyd and Alyssa Thomas will move on from Team USA duties after winning in Paris — as Diana Taurasi has already said she would.

Of the aforementioned players, Griner, Loyd and Thomas were especially hard to omit, but they will all be in the latter stages of their respective careers by the time the 2028 Games reach U.S. soil.

Cameron Brink | Age in 2028: 26

Brink seems to be the next on the 3x3 to 5-on-5 pipeline. But after injury kept her from the 3x3 competition in Paris, I believe that she'll look to handle unfinished business with that squad in front of the fans of her home team.

Rhyne Howard | Age in 2028: 30

Howard is one of three active American No. 1 overall picks who has not yet represented Team USA's 5-on-5 team at the Olympics. While the other two are included above, a roster crunch leads me to believe that Howard will also reprise her role with the 3x3 national team.

Rickea Jackson | Age in 2028: 27

Jackson is a pure scorer and is on a fast track to superstardom. I envision her just missing the cut in 2028, setting up an Olympic debut at the 2032 games.

Flau'jae Johnson | Age in 2028: 24

Johnson oozes star power with her prowess on and off the court. Based on her trajectory, she'll be one of the biggest names in the game by 2028 and, like Jackson, will be on a trajectory to join the roster in 2032.

JuJu Watkins | Age in 2028: 23

The biggest — and most difficult — name to omit is Watkins, a Los Angeles native who turned in one of the most impressive freshman seasons in college basketball in 2023-24.

In 2028, Watkins should have one full season of WNBA hoops under her belt, but the crowded backcourt makes it hard to give her the nod over a returning member of the 2024 team or players like Bueckers and Clark, who will be further ahead in line. The precedent has been set with Clark's omission in 2024, but corresponding moves with returners moving on could open the door for a Watkins debut in 2024.

Potential USA women's basketball 2028 Olympics roster

With everything in mind, here's a look at what USA's roster could look like for the 2028 Olympics: