Speaking of the 2028 Olympics...

[Basingstoke]

Given the probable scarcity of spots on the USA team, who else from the UCONN family might find their way onto other nations' rosters for which they might be eligible?
Just to start us off: Blanca for Ecuador?

 

[meyers7]

Given the probable scarcity of spots on the USA team, who else from the UCONN family might find their way onto other nations' rosters for which they might be eligible?
Just to start us off: Blanca for Ecuador?

Don't think Ecuador has much of a chance of making the Olympics. They have never had their WBB team make the Olympics.

 

[YKCornelius]

Don't think Ecuador has much of a chance of making the Olympics. They have never had their WBB team make the Olympics.

Concur. It would be a long shot for Ecuador to even make the Americas Cup.

Which raises the point: perhaps the OP question should be rephrased to include making a national team for any FIBA competition?

 

[Basingstoke]

But the point is more broad: how about if there is no spot for Sarah Strong, for instance, does she potentially play for Spain?

 

[YKCornelius]

But the point is more broad: how about if there is no spot for Sarah Strong, for instance, does she potentially play for Spain?

Hopefully somebody can research the latest FIBA rules, but I think Sarah is locked into the US team structure since she has played on the US Team in various youth competitions as well as 3x3.

 

[EricSD]

Off the top of my head...

Kia and Aaliyah for Canada
Gabby for France
Tiff for Azerbaijan (not sure if, like Ecuador, they would qualify, but they did in 2024)
Lou Lopez has Mexican and French citizenship so... not sure
Jana for Egypt
Gandy for Ireland

No idea how good Gandy will be by 2028 or if Ireland (or Egypt for that matter) will qualify - but those are the players I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[Topdawg]

Olivia, Nika, and Dorka will also likely participate if their teams qualify.

 

[Basingstoke]

And...
Nika & Big O - Croatia
Dorka - Hungary

 

[Basingstoke]

You beat me by a minute

Olivia, Nika, and Dorka will also likely participate if their teams qualify.

 

[meyers7]

Hopefully somebody can research the latest FIBA rules, but I think Sarah is locked into the US team structure since she has played on the US Team in various youth competitions as well as 3x3.

If FIBA is similar to FIFA, playing for youth teams usually doesn't count. Have to play a national team in a sanctioned tournament.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

But the point is more broad: how about if there is no spot for Sarah Strong, for instance, does she potentially play for Spain?

Even if Sarah could play for Spain in the Olympics, she probably shouldn’t.

• See the unfortunate situation of Nneka Ogwumike.
• Sarah should wait &1 for USA basketball to invite her; her extra-WNBA income opportunities and gold medal opportunities are better if she is representing the USA in the Olympics.

&1 UConn players in the Olympics is an easy target for hot takes that rile up other fanbases:

• Sarah’s potential inclusion mirrors rationales for Rebecca, Diana, and Stewie in their first go-around;
• Diana’s last inclusion is per USA basketball’s long-running practice; Sue (the recently appointed managing director of the USWNT) agreed with Diana’s inclusion and disagreed with Diana’s lack of playing time; if it’s good enough for Sue, it is good enough for me.

 

[cancontent]

Off the top of my head...

Kia and Aaliyah for Canada
Gabby for France
Tiff for Azerbaijan (not sure if, like Ecuador, they would qualify, but they did in 2024)
Lou Lopez has Mexican and French citizenship so... not sure
Jana for Egypt
Gandy for Ireland

No idea how good Gandy will be by 2028 or if Ireland (or Egypt for that matter) will qualify - but those are the players I can think of off the top of my head.

There's chatter that Canada Basketball is working on getting Serah Williams added to their development pool. She was part of the GloblJam training camp squad I recall. Still unclear as to whether that's possible considering she did play 3x3 for USA Basketball in 2024 for the U23 age group.

 

[Kaizen]

From Reddit, but I think Strong should replace Angel Reese.

 

[BobbyJ]

Hopefully somebody can research the latest FIBA rules, but I think Sarah is locked into the US team structure since she has played on the US Team in various youth competitions as well as 3x3.

I believe Strong can play for Spain but may require a letter of clearance from USABB.

 

[Gael]

From Reddit, but I think Strong should replace Angel Reese.

View attachment 116236

I think Brink is the weakest player of those 12. She's proved nothing yet in the WNBA and Sarah Strong's college career will dwarf hers.

 

[cancontent]

From Reddit, but I think Strong should replace Angel Reese.

View attachment 116236

It's too soon to predict whether Strong would be a better fit over the likes of Reese, Boston, etc. Reese has improved from her rookie year last season. For example, her FG increased by 25% compared to last year. If she continues to trend in that direction, she will make an excellent case for consideration for the Olympic squad.

 

[cancontent]

I think Brink is the weakest player of those 12. She's proved nothing yet in the WNBA and Sarah Strong's college career will dwarf hers.

She was injured and played minimally last season due to her ACL injury. How is she expected to prove anything due to that situation? She still has a couple seasons to show whether she can compete at that level.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

I think Brink is the weakest player of those 12. She's proved nothing yet in the WNBA and Sarah Strong's college career will dwarf hers.

I believe you are correct in your assessment that Sarah Strong will probably have a much better college career than Cameron Brink and will be a unique weapon in the 2028 Olympics:

• Even Geno and CD think that Sarah has not even scratched half of her potential;
• And there is no one better in developing star players than Geno and CD.

 

[ec33]

Don't think Ecuador has much of a chance of making the Olympics. They have never had their WBB team make the Olympics.

Did Ecuador ever have a Blanca before?

 

[Vowelguy]

Hopefully somebody can research the latest FIBA rules, but I think Sarah is locked into the US team structure since she has played on the US Team in various youth competitions as well as 3x3.

Also pretty sure that once you play in the Olympics for country X, you cannot represent any other country.

 

[Gael]

She [Brink] was injured and played minimally last season due to her ACL injury. How is she expected to prove anything due to that situation? She still has a couple seasons to show whether she can compete at that level.

Completely true.

However, the context of the thread [thread swerve] is predicting in January 2026 who will be on the Olympic team in the summer of 2028. As of January 2026, I believe the available evidence is that Sarah Strong is right now a much better basketball player than Cameron Brink, in every aspect of the game, and is likely to lengthen her skill lead over Brink the next 2.5 years.

A secondary reason why, right now, I would choose Strong over Brink is that a team with Wilson, Stewart, Boston and Reese in the low paint makes Brink somewhat redundant, whereas Strong would likely be a good complement to, or even an upgrade over, Young and Watkins at the 4-3-2.

 

[cancontent]

Completely true.

However, the context of the thread is predicting in January 2026 who will be on the Olympic team in the summer of 2028. As of January 2026, I believe the available evidence is that Sarah Strong is right now a much better basketball player than Cameron Brink, in every aspect of the game, and is likely to lengthen her skill lead over Brink the next 2.5 years.

A secondary reason why, right now, I would choose Strong over Brink is that a team with Wilson, Stewart, Boston and Reese in the low paint makes Brink somewhat redundant, whereas Strong would likely be an upgrade over Young and Watkins at the 4-3-2.

Your interpretation of the context is very different from the original question that was asked. The question was which players would be joining other teams that would likely be participating. Your response, along with mine is in response to a thread swerve where another poster brought in the USA team into the discussion.

 

[cancontent]

Did Ecuador ever have a Blanca before?

No, however Ecuador would still be challenged in qualifying through the Americas, having to beat out the likes of Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico and possibly Argentina.

 

[cancontent]

Also pretty sure that once you play in the Olympics for country X, you cannot represent any other country.

If memory serves correct, any FIBA competition is considered as that was the reason given when Nneka Ogwumike's appeal to join the Nigerian team was rejected. She never represented the USA at the Olympics.

 

[ec33]

No, however Ecuador would still be challenged in qualifying through the Americas, having to beat out the likes of Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico and possibly Argentina.

The point was that she has the potential to be a game changer for Ecuador's potential to qualify.

Although I would suspect that 3x3 is the more likely avenue for her to pursue.