Is Angel Reese on USA Basketball Olympic team? Why Chicago Sky coach thinks rookie ‘has what it takes’ | Sporting News

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is taking the WNBA by storm during her rookie season.

Reese, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, leads the league in offensive rebounds per game (4.7), leads all rookies in rebounds per game (9.6) and is second among all rookies in scoring with 12.4 points per game. With Reese making a major impact during an Olympic year, many are curious whether or not she can represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics.

A native of Baltimore, Reese is less than one year removed from representing USA Basketball at the FIBA AmeriCup. Will Reese play for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics? Here is the latest on her status.

MORE: Breaking down 2024 USA women’s Olympic basketball roster

Is Angel Reese on USA Basketball Olympic team?

Reese is not on the USA Basketball Olympic team in 2024.

USA Basketball officially announced its 12-player roster on June 11 and Reese was not one of the 12 members listed.

Team USA Olympic women’s basketball roster

MORE: Why Indiana’s Caitlin Clark was left off USA Olympic team

Could Angel Reese make Team USA Olympic roster?

Reese could be added to the team in the event of an injury to one of the members of the 12-player roster.

As outlined in a report from The Athletic, USA Basketball will not name a list of alternates. If a player is injured, the USA Basketball program would appoint an injury replacement.

Reese still would have her work cut out as the top alternates are reportedly Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Connecticut Sun center Brionna Jones. 

It is worth noting that Reese’s chances of being the frontcourt alternate are slim. In addition to Jones reportedly being the preferred candidate for a potential replacement, Reese’s FIBA experience is limited to her time at the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup, where she played on a squad comprised of college stars.

With Reese, Team USA won silver.

MORE: Diana Taurasi is set to make history at 2024 Paris Olympics

Sky coach: Reese ‘has what it takes’ to play in Olympics

During her Hall of Fame career, Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was a two-time Olympian, winning gold in 1988. That said, she knows something about competing on the Olympic stage.

Weatherspoon was definitive when asked if Reese could be an impactful player at the Olympics.

 “Does she have what it takes? She’s showing it,” Weatherspoon said after a Sky practice. “She has what it takes. You’re doggone right she has what it takes.”

Why Angel Reese’s LSU teammate Hailey Van Lith is playing in Olympics

Hailey Van Lith will represent USA Basketball at the 2024 Olympics in Paris as one of four members of Team USA’s 3×3 (three-ex-three) Women’s National Team. Van Lith helped lead Team USA’s 3×3 team to gold at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in 2023.

3×3 is a half-court variation of basketball. In addition to being 3-on-3 in the halfcourt, a few major rule differences exist in the world of 3×3.