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Sports USA Today via Reuters Feb 17, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20)
reacts after the Stephen vs Sebrina three-point challenge during NBA All Star
Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY
Sports Fame and money are not the biggest things for many athletes. Instead, it is the stage that sets things for them. The bigger the stage, the better. With the Paris Olympics approaching nearer, 9 out of the 12 participating women’s basketball teams have announced their roster. Each roster is a blend of experienced wisdom and young stars’ hope. Among them, while most have already been a part of some of the previous quadrennial events, a few will be making their Olympic debuts. Today, Essentially Sports takes a closer look at the 7 rising WNBA athletes who will mark their maiden Olympic appearance this year. It would come as a surprise but stalwarts like Sabrina Ionescu and Kahleah Copper haven’t ever plied their trade in the largest sports event till now. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad One of the first names that might come as a surprise for many is that of Sabrina Ionescu. Ionescu was the first-round pick by the New York Liberty in 2020 but till now hasn’t gotten a chance to set the Olympics on fire. Previously, she helped Team USA win the gold at the World Cup 2022 in Australia, and hence it will be interesting to see how she will adjust in a squad and make a mark for herself that boasts of veterans like A’ja Wilson, Diana Taurasi, and Brittney Griner. Ionescu as of now averages 18.7 points this season with 4.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Therefore, she has proven that she is a three-dimensional player. And hopefully, she will continue her on-song performances when she makes her Olympics debut in July. Alyssa Thomas is another name that hasn’t made her debut for the Team USA in the Olympics till now. She plies her trade for the Connecticut Sun. The 32-year-old, just like Ionescu, was a part of the World Cup-winning team in 2022 in Australia. Therefore, she has a good experience of adjusting to a team of exceptional players and will most probably fare well at it even this time. In the current WNBA season, Thomas averages a decent 12.1 points with 9.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. Hence, she is a well-rounded player as well who is comfortable playing the role of a second fiddle when it comes to offense. It will be interesting to see how much game time she will get with Team USA. Kahleah Copper represents the Phoenix Mercury currently and was part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2022. Nonetheless, it will be her first Olympics with Team USA. Copper’s experience will come in handy since she has played in the Spanish and the Euro leagues and she might also, with her basketball acumen, divulge some secrets to her team for overcoming the opponents. Copper is on an out-and-out rampage in the W this season. She has averaged 22.4 points per game and hopefully will continue to improve her numbers. All this makes her an ideal starter for Team USA. However, she will face tough competition from her teammates to be in the starting five. Jade Melbourne is an upcoming star for the Australia Opals. She plays for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA and has previously also represented the Seattle Storm in 2023. Melbourne is just 21 years old and has won bronze in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in 2021. She also became the youngest player in the W roster in 2023. Therefore, scaling heights at such a young age proves that Melbourne is a gifted player. And hopefully, she can surprise her fans with her astounding performances in the Paris Olympics. In 19 games this season, Melbourne has averaged 5.9 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game in 13.4 minutes on the floor. However, with an increased role for her national team, it won’t be surprising to see her come to life. Sami Whitcomb is a player for the Seattle Storm who will also be plying her trade for Australia in the Paris Olympics. The 35-year-old bagged silver and bronze at the FIBA World Cup in Spain and Australia in 2018 and 2022, respectively. However, she hasn’t yet had the chance to show her talent in the biggest sports event. via Getty MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 13: Sami Whitcomb of the Fire warms up before the WNBL match between Melbourne Boomers and Townsville Fire at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville, on January 13, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) Whitcomb hasn’t had many opportunities in this year’s W but has proved her worth in the limited time she has got. She is often used by the Storm as a rotational piece and her knowledge of American basketball will definitely come in handy when she steps into the Olympics stage. Kristy Wallace is another star who will be making her Olympic debut for the Australian women’s basketball team. She currently plays alongside Caitlin Clark for the Indiana Fever. Therefore, she surely would have learned the tricks of the trade in the WNBA. A post shared by Kristy Wallace (@kristywallace5) Wallace has clinched bronze at the World Cup in Australia and the FIBA Asia Cup in Jordan. Hence, a lot of Australian fans will be expecting a similar display from her side when she steps onto the court in the Olympics. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Borlase was selected as a second-round pick in the WNBA 2024 draft. However, her career path has been a conventional one. She decided to ditch the Atlanta Dream and chose to remain in Adelaide. Hence, the Olympic debut is going to be special since she can perform at the highest level and once again send a clear message to the Dream regarding what they are missing in the squad. Borlase is just 19 years old and has previously represented her country in the U19 World Cup 2021 and the Under 18 Asian Championship in 2022. Thus Borlase can take her career to another level with the upcoming tournament. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video. EssentiallySports is a digital-first sports media house that surfaces the best stories on America’s favorite sports celebrities with a fan’s perspective to 30+ M average monthly readers. 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