Aces Guards Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young Set to Represent the USA at Olympic Qualifier
BROOKLYN, New York (February 4, 2024)—Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, both of whom won gold on the 2020 U.S. Olympic 3×3 Basketball Team, will suit up for the traditional USA National Team at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Feb. 8-11 in Antwerp, Belgium, USA Basketball announced today. The roster was finalized following a three-day camp in Brooklyn, New York.
While Plum won gold medals at the past two FIBA World Cups and has played in a total of six international events in the full-court game, this marks Young’s first five-on-five USA Basketball team for an international competition.
The FIBA world No. 1-ranked USA opens play against host Belgium (No. 6) on February 8 (11:45 am PT), takes on Nigeria (No. 11) on February 9 (9:15 am) and caps the tournament against Senegal (No. 20) on August 11 (10:15 am PT). Fans can watch the games on Courtside 1891, a subscription-based streaming platform.
Newly-signed Aces center Megan Gustafson will compete for Spain in the qualifying tournament in Hungary. Ranked No. 4 in the world, Spain takes on No. 9 Japan on February 8 (7:30 am PT), No. 5 Canada on February 9 (6:30 am PT) and No. 19 Hungary on February 11 (8:30 am PT).
Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson also participated in the training camp, but Gray is not yet cleared for full-court action and Wilson had prior commitments that precluded her playing for the USA in Belgium. They are both still on the USA National Team roster and in contention for one of 12 roster spots for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team that will play in Paris this summer.
Though the United States qualified for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games following the gold medal finish at the 2022 World Cup, the USA will participate in the qualifying tournament.
Three additional four-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will take place concurrently in Brazil, China and Hungary. The United States, as reigning world champions, and France, as Olympic hosts, are qualified for Paris, while the top three teams at each qualifying tournament, including the USA and France, also will qualify for the Olympics.
Also named to the team for this tournament were: Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun).
2021-24 USA Basketball National Team head coach Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) is being assisted by Curt Miller (Los Angeles Sparks) and Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics).