Inside USA women's volleyball team: A complete roster and more to know about 2024 Olympics | Sporting News (2024)

Repeating as Olympic champions is nothing new in women's volleyball. Beating the No. 1 team in the world to defend the title is a little more difficult.

If anyone can do it, it's the Americans.

The U.S. is set to face Italy in the gold medal match. It'll be Italy's first time on the Olympic women's podium, no matter the result, and it's much deserved after winning the 2024 Volleyball Nations League and going nearly perfect in the Games, dropping just one set in the tournament.

But this USA squad dug deep in the semifinals. They've got the best in the nation, some of the best players in the world, ready to go for it one more time with gold on the line.

Here's a look at the USA women's volleyball team.

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USA 2024 Olympic women's volleyball roster

While assembling the Paris Olympic roster, USAV chose to bring back eight players from the 2021 gold medal team. That included now-four-time Olympian Jordan Larson, also known as "The Governor." Kelsey Robinson Cook was the only returning teammate from the 2016 silver medal team.

Four players were selected to make their Olympic debuts in Paris, including Tokyo alternates Kathryn Plummer and Lauren Carlini.

Those rookies have already shaped out to be the right choices. Plummer and Avery Skinner led the way in the U.S.'s semifinal victory over Brazil, recording 26 and 19 points in the match, respectively.

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Unfortunately, the roster selection didn't come without some controversy.

Limited to 12 players, fans expected only two setters to be selected. The question was who was it going to be? Jordyn Poulter, the top setter for the national team, was expected to be chosen. And she was.

But Micha Hanco*ck, who also played in Tokyo and was dubbed the official alternate of the team, was not. Instead, the nod went to Carlini. The Wisconsin product proved herself during the VNLs as a reliable influence for the team, resulting in her Olympic selection.

While a disappointing result for Hanco*ck, she proved much needed early in Paris. Carlini played one group stage match before being sidelined with a back injury. As a result, Hanco*ck was called up, helping the U.S. to a five-set win over Serbia and a three-set victory over France. Carlini returned for the knockouts, but the good news for Hanco*ck is that she'll earn a medal after the USA's final match against Italy.

Regardless of the gold medal match outcome, what the 2024 Olympic roster shows is its depth and promising future.

*Official alternate

^First-time Olympian

USA 2024 Olympic women's volleyball coaches

The USA women are coached by Karch Kiraly, who took over the program in 2012 and hasn't looked back since.

That's no surprise, given the fact that Kiraly is often referred to as the best volleyball player ever. He has three Olympic golds as a player — two indoor in 1984 and 1988, plus one on the sand in 1996 — making him the only person to have Olympic medals in both sport formats. He's one of four people to have a world championship as both a coach and a player.

In Paris, he's joined by former player Tama Miyashiro, who was part of the 2012 silver medal team. Her role focuses on serve receive and floor defense.

Erin Virtue and Alfee Reft also serve as the team's assistant coaches. Virtue is the current head coach of the Michigan program but is the offensive coordinator andsetting coach with USAV. Reft, a 2008 Olympic alternate, is now head coach of the UCLA women's team.

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How USA women's volleyball reached the Olympic finals

The U.S. went 2-1 in Pool A, improving to 4-1 through the semifinals.

Its tournament began with a five-set heartbreaker against China as it lost the final set 15-13. But it didn't affect the team too much, as two days later it bounced back to defeat Serbia in five sets. That final set was even closer, going overtime to 17-15.

The team was expected to do well in its final group game against France, the lowest-ranked squad in the pool. USA won 3-0, though the first two sets went to extra points. Regardless, it gave the team a better position heading into the knockouts.

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The women's team rolled through Poland, sweeping their opponents to advance to the semifinals for a matchup against Brazil.

The Brazil-USA rivalry in volleyball is storied. Prior to the match, the teams faced off 11 times in the Olympics, five matchups coming in a medal game. Brazil beat the USA in the gold medal match in 2008 and 2012, but in Tokyo, the U.S. got revenge, sweeping Brazil for its first-ever gold medal.

Revenge is best served twice, and the USA once again defeated its rivals. This time, in a thrilling five-set semifinal match.

Now, it's looking to do the same against Italy, which will receive its first-ever Olympic medal after the match.

USA women's volleyball history in the Olympics

With a finals appearance and a guaranteed medal, the USA becomes the most decorated Olympic women's volleyball team. It will earn its seventh medal after the match, the most among all participants. Only time will tell if it's the U.S.'s second gold or fourth silver.

Paris is the program's 12th Olympic appearance. It has won bronze twice, silver three times and gold just once.