USA Volleyball has unveiled a 30-player Women's Volleyball Nations League roster that head coach Erik Sullivan describes as the second concrete step in a build toward a home Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
The squad blends six returning Olympians from the Paris 2024 campaign with a group of younger athletes who have logged minutes at recent VNL and NORCECA events. With the United States already qualified for the 2028 Games as hosts, the focus is on competitive depth rather than results in any single tournament this summer.
"We're excited about this roster and what it represents for our group as we build towards LA 2028," Sullivan said in the federation's official announcement. "We have six Olympians in this group, and they will bring invaluable experience and composure to every training session."
"At the same time, we've got a deep group of athletes who have proven themselves in past VNLs and NORCECA events, and that creates exactly the kind of competitive gym we want. VNL is a grind against the best teams in the world, and we'll learn a lot about ourselves. But we believe this roster has the balance, depth and resilience to take another step forward this summer."
The setter pool runs five deep: Jordan Poulter and Micha Hancock anchor the experienced end, with Rachel Fairbanks, Kemi Minor and Sage Kahaiana-Torres on the developmental side. At opposite, Jordan Thompson returns alongside Madi Skinner, Olivia Babcock, Steph Samedy and Kendall Kipp.
The libero rotation has been retooled with Lexi Rodriguez and Morgan Hentz the experienced pair, joined by Alana Scott and Allegra Oglivy. Middle blocker depth is the deepest position on the sheet — Anna Hall, Chiaka Ogbogu, Dana Rettke, Asjia O'Neal, Molly McCage, Sammy Francis and Anna Dodson all on the long list.
The outside hitter group features Tori Stafford, Avery Skinner, Sarah Franklin, Kara Hallock (formerly Kara Bajema), Simone Lee Wang, Logan Eggleston, Madi Kubik, Katie Baird and Claire Huffman.
The roster marks a year-two reset for Sullivan after he was appointed in the wake of Karch Kiraly's departure following Paris 2024. The 2025 VNL had been used as a developmental run, with a young squad still reaching the quarter-finals and the World Championships. Sullivan has indicated that 2026 will involve heavier minutes for Olympians who sat out last year's tour.
The federation will trim the long list to its match-day group of fourteen ahead of each VNL week, which begins in late May. The 2026 World Championships in 2027 — the first major test under the new programme — represents the next hard checkpoint. Hosting LA 2028 removes qualification pressure, but Sullivan has been clear in private and public that he does not want a home Olympics to be a development project. The 30 names listed this week are the pool he is building from.
