Inside USA women's volleyball team: A complete roster and more to know about 2024 Olympics

Emily Dozier

Inside USA women's volleyball team: A complete roster and more to know about 2024 Olympics image

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.

MORE: A guide to Olympic volleyball scoring, rules, terms and more

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.

MORE: Why Kathryn Plummer garnered Michael Jordan comparisons in USA-Brazil volleyball clash

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 Hancock, 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 Hancock, she proved much needed early in Paris. Carlini played one group stage match before being sidelined with a back injury. As a result, Hancock 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 Hancock 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. 

PlayerPositionHeightCollege
Jordyn PoulterSetter6-2Illinois
Avery Skinner^Outside6-1Kentucky
Justine Wong-OrantesLibero5-6Nebraska
Lauren Carlini^Setter6-2Wisconsin
Jordan LarsonOutside6-2Nebraska
Annie DrewsOpposite6-4Purdue
Jordan ThompsonOpposite6-4Cincinnati
Haleigh WashingtonMiddle6-3Penn State
Dana Rettke^Middle6-8Wisconsin
Kathryn Plummer^Outside6-6Stanford
Kelsey Robinson CookOutside6-2Nebraska
Chiaka OgboguMiddle6-2Texas
Micha Hancock*Setter5-11Penn State

*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 and setting coach with USAV. Reft, a 2008 Olympic alternate, is now head coach of the UCLA women's team.

CoachPosition
Karch KiralyHead Coach
Tama MiyashiroAssistant Coach
Erin VirtueAssistant Coach
Alfee ReftAssistant Coach

USA OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT: Overall table | U.S. medal trackerWho has won gold?

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.

MORE: Updated scores, results, bracket from Olympics indoor volleyball

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.

YearRecordPlace
19641-45th
19680-78th
1972DNP
1976DNP
1980Withdrew
19844-1Silver
19882-37th
19924-2Bronze
19965-37th
20005-34th
20042-45th
20086-2Silver
20127-1Silver
20167-1Bronze
20217-1Gold

Emily Dozier

Emily Dozier Photo

Emily Dozier is a live events and lifestyle writer at The Sporting News, covering everything from sporting events and music festivals to broadway shows and stand-up comedy. Based out of New York, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. When not covering the SN tickets beat, Emily enjoys playing volleyball and cooking. Prior to joining The Sporting News in 2023, Emily covered the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup for the Associated Press.