By Joe Apu
Team USA is leaving nothing to chance as preparations hots-up for the FIBA Women Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium from February 6-9, 2024 with the head coach Cheryl Reeve naming an 18-man star studded squad.
Among the stars is 26 year-old Arike Ogunbowale of Nigeria descent who plays as a guard. The 5’8” player stars for the Dallas Wings of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Ogunbowale played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, before being drafted by the Wings with the fifth overall pick of the 2019 WNBA draft. She was the Most Outstanding Player of Notre Dame’s 2018 national title run, hitting game-winning baskets in both the semi-final and championship game.
Announcing 18 names in the squad, the headliners are all on board in a who’s-who of the women’s game globally – headlined by Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart and A’Ja Wilson who could all be stepping out in Belgium next month.
A training camp in Brooklyn, New York will take place across February 2-4, with 12 players selected from the pool of 18 ballers who will be in attendance.
Five-time Olympic champion Taurasi is one of the 11 Olympians who will be present as she makes a return to major tournament action for the first time since Tokyo 2020 – along with Griner.
The nine other Olympians are Ariel Atkins, Napheesa Collier, Allisha Gray, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
There are also nine returnees from the team that was crowned FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 winners in Sydney and banked automatic qualification to the Olympic Games in the process.
That includes Wilson, who was crowned as MVP of the competition. The other members are Atkins, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney, Alyssa Thomas, Plum and Stewart.
The list is rounded out by Aliyah Boston, Rhyne Howard and Arike Ogunbowale who all have some previous USA Basketball experience.