June 11. That was the date when the Team USA for women’s basketball that would head to the Paris Olympics was announced. The squad consists mostly of veterans who will be eyeing their eighth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics. The USA women’s team has been a clear winner since 1996 onwards. Hence, taking cognizance of the occasion as well as the team, enthusiasts are keen to know who will be the starting five of the golden squad.

Today, let’s look at the ideal starting five who ply their trade for Team USA and help them emerge victorious on the biggest stage. Though there are various combinations for the starting 5, two guards and forwards with one center might be the most relied tactic of Team USA since it helps play basketball in the conventional sense, something the team has been doing so for many years.

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner might play the role of a conventional center. She is 6 feet 9 inches and will stand tall against most Olympic participants. Hence, Griner’s inclusion in the starting five gives one an opportunity to shoot above the headspace of most defenders. Plus, her footwork and anticipation skills also come in handy as Griner can easily screen players while defending. Therefore, she can to some extent play a complete role in both offense and defense.

However, where Griner lacks is her athleticism and speed. Team USA when keeping Griner will have to make sure that they utilize her in screening and shooting and mostly play her as a connector between layups. In the current WNBA season, Griner has scored 20.4 points per game with 6.9 rebounds per game. Therefore, she will most probably make the starting five.

A’ja Wilson

The next player in the starting five could be A’ja Wilson. Wilson is breaking records day by day and previously helped the team bag gold at the Tokyo Olympics. At present in the WNBA, she averages a whopping 26.9 points per game with 10.9 rebounds. In case Griner does not play the starting five, Wilson can play as a center, and if Griner plays the center, Wilson might be the power forward.

Wilson is great with layups and has good shooting skills. On the defensive end, the 27-year-old is popular for her blocks. Therefore, she is a complete player, and looking at the form she is in, she should make it to the starting five. She is going to be the key in situations where the game demands Team USA to defend their posts with precision.

Diana Taurasi

If anyone has to certainly be in the starting five, it has to be Diana Taurasi. Taurasi has both experience and versatility. She has vast experience in reading the game and watching films such that she can be the playmaker for this squad. She can play the role of a guard with ease. In the current W season, Taurasi averages a decent 16.6 points per game but the main skills possessed by Taurasi are to look for open spaces and create scoring opportunities.

Plus, Taurasi can also rise to the occasion whenever the team needs long-range shooters. Therefore, she can really be a gem for Team USA in crunch moments. In this W season, Taurasi has scored 35.4% three-pointers. And hopefully, before leaving the game she can prove her dominance.

Alyssa Thomas

It would come as a surprise for many but among names such as Sabrina Ionescu and Kelsey Plum, Thomas could make it to the starting five. Thomas could be the second forward in the team apart from Wilson. Thomas leads the W in triple-doubles. She has an unorthodox shooting style as she performs well in the paint and is also great at assisting.

Therefore, Thomas’s inclusion could give a player like Wilson enough opportunities to capitalize upon and score against the opponents. At present, she has added 9.6 rebounds per game and 7.9 assists per game in the ongoing season of the W. Hence, Thomas will prove to be a vital player for Team USA, and hopefully, with her inclusion, they can expect an aggressive start to their campaign.

Sabrina Ionescu

The fifth player who can make her mark on the big stage is Sabrina Ionescu. While Ionescu isn’t the strongest or the most athletic player what goes in her favor is the ability to adapt. Hence, she can certainly play the role of a connector passing the ball to Wilson and Taurasi. Plus, her scoring average is fairly good as she stands at 18.9 points per game this season. Hence, she can also be the alpha when the situation demands.

Other than that, Ionescu is loved by her fans for her assist-making ability with 6.3 assists per game, making her useful during offense when any of her teammates is screened by the defenders.

Overall, the selectors have made sure to make a balanced team. The stars complement each other and will definitely leave their rivalry to contribute their part in the national duty. The team should go ahead with the combination of a center and two guards and forwards.

Wilson should be the prime scorer as Taurasi becomes the playmaker. Griner can be the center who can defend and play offense with equal measure whereas Thomas can be the assist maker and Ionescu can adjust her role to various situations when the prime stars are not able to give their best. And hopefully, Team USA will be able to clinch its eighth consecutive gold medal.

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.