Can Sabrina Ionescu make her way back to USA Basketball in time for the 2028 Olympics?
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu won an Olympic gold medal 14 months ago. As the United States prepares for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals, the California native is back home — not in Berlin.
"It is what it is," Ionescu told local media in Brooklyn on August 8, shortly after the final USA FIBA roster was announced.
How did this happen?
When a reporter asked Sue Bird directly about the Ionescu call at the August roster announcement press conference, Bird kept it short:
"This is a very tough roster to make, and I don't view it as a reflection of their play," USA Basketball Women's National Team Managing Director Sue Bird said during a video conference with media on August 6.
"Roster construction, to me, isn't just about looking at one player in a silo. It's about looking at the full breadth of each player and how they're going to make things work together," Bird added.
Monday night on the Gotta Get Up! livestream, co-host Brian Fleurantin and I discussed what it would take for Ionescu to make the 2028 Olympic roster.
"I don't think Sabrina did anything to lose the benefit of the doubt of being able to be an impactful player on this squad," I said during our weekly livestream.
Brian agreed — and pointed to the clearest roadmap available. Ionescu's path mirrors one she's already walked. She took a limited role at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney to earn a bigger one at Paris 2024.
"Sab's work with the team in 2024, her willingness — like Sonia this year — to be the twelfth player in 2022, played a big role in her being able to make 2024 and succeed in the minutes she had."
The lesson for Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen — the two players who replaced A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum after their health withdrawals — applies equally to Ionescu looking toward 2028.
"Being a good soldier matters. You may be stuck on the bench, but in two years' time, they're going to say — how about you come back and play? And this time you'll get real minutes," Brian added.
To her credit, Ionescu seems to understand the game and her role in it.
"Disappointed, of course. That's obviously something that I wanted to participate in. But I think it's just maturity. I understand how difficult it is. I'm excited for a lot of the new faces that get to go and have the opportunity to do the World Cup, and I've done it already."
"It didn't rub me the wrong way. I really understand the honor it is to wear the jersey, and I've been able to win a gold medal, and so I'm very blessed," Ionescu said after practice with the New York Liberty in August.
At the time, I felt Ionescu had done enough, even in a limited role, to earn a closer look, or at least the chance to fight for a roster spot. The thought was especially jarring after the U.S. struggled to knock down shots in a 55-52 win over Italy in Group play.
The position — not the player — may be the real obstacle.
Ionescu played the lead guard position behind Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum. Not an easy task. Throughout her college and WNBA career, Ionescu has been known as a shooter, and a clutch-time shooter at that.
USA Basketball needed that against Italy, and will surely need that as they continue into the knockout phase come Thursday morning.
So, could Ionescu shift to the shooting guard?
Will the Math Add Up for Sabrina Ionescu?
In her last three tournaments, competition at the two-guard position would have been between Sab, Jewell Loyd, and Kahleah Copper.
I have long believed Ionescu is best as a hybrid or combo guard. And versatility might be the way back to the national team.
"The thing that drives me crazy about Sab's usage is in the WNBA," I said Monday.
"There are not a lot of hybrids. Sab is used as a point guard. She can be a shooter, though, in theory, for the team. Is that what saves her?"
Her floor position, notwithstanding, a glimpse at Ionescu's USA Basketball statistics indicates her performance was serviceable, but not exemplary.
The 2020 WNBA first overall pick tallied a USA Basketball career-high 20 total assists during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. For reference, Clark has 19 assists through three games at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup. Bueckers has 11 assists in the same stretch.
The question is whether the next cycle has room for her — and whether the backcourt math works in her favor.
Look-ahead to Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics
Chelsea Gray won't play forever, though it's hard to imagine the former Los Angeles Sparks guard passing on an opportunity to compete in LA28.
Even without Gray in the mix, the competition is getting stiffer for backcourt players. At the risk of being a heretic in some women's basketball circles (wink-wink), Paige Bueckers is my pick for the future point guard of USA Basketball.
In addition to Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Sonia Citron are point guards on the United States' 2026 FIBA World Cup roster. Other than Ionescu, Bird was explicitly asked about the assumed 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Olivia Miles, and whether she was considered for the Berlin tournament.
Outside of Ionescu and Miles, NCAA players like Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), Madison Booker (Texas), and JuJu Watkins (Southern California) are names likely in the mix for USA Basketball ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
"It doesn't get easier in the backcourt," I said on the latest episode of Gotta Get Up!
Bird confirmed she waited until the very last moment to finalize the 12 — "the last possible day," she said. Everything was on the table until it wasn't. All that to say, don't expect her to tip her hand anytime soon.
I asked Bird how, if at all, the 2026 FIBA World Cup roster will mirror what we will see for the LA28 Olympics.
"I'm not thinking about LA in any concrete way. There's– this is not an indicator of what's going to happen two years from now," Bird said, with an emphasis on the timeline.
"I waited until the last possible day, and I think you have to do that. That's the only way to approach this," she added.
Moving Forward with Grace
The countdown to LA28 has already begun. Ionescu has less than two years to make her case. While I am clearly nervous on her behalf, Ionescu proved to be the consummate professional.
Last month, USA captain Breanna Stewart admitted she too was surprised that her Liberty teammate was not headed to Berlin, and admired how Ionescu was handling the setback.
"I was surprised, definitely," Stewart said. "Not a nice feeling for her, but I feel like she's taking it in a positive way ... she'll be back!"
Until then, Ionescu plans to work and stay as healthy as possible while rooting for Team USA. It's been an uncharacteristic season for the New York Liberty, and a healthy Sabrina will be paramount to a playoff run.
Ionescu says she holds no ill thoughts or jealousy after the decision. Instead, she's focused on being a good teammate, despite missing out on the official roster.
"It's about uplifting the players that did make the team, and honestly, showcasing ... what it looks like when maybe you didn't accomplish something that you set your mind on doing, but you can continue to put your best foot forward and keep striving for your goals," the 28-year-old said last month.
A mature approach indeed, and one that will empower her to move towards the future.
Whatever that may entail.
For the full conversation, listen to this week's episode of Gotta Get Up!, a podcast for New York Liberty fans brought to you by Black Rosie Media.
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