Paris 2024 Olympics: Team USA ready to capture the moment in women’s volleyball

Women’s volleyball is in the midst of a Renaissance in the United States of America. From rising broadcast figures to record-setting attendance, the nation is on the precipice of being overcome by “volleyballmania.” The question is: will Team USA be able to seize the moment and ride a wave of enthusiasm and new-found passion to a second Olympic gold medal?

It was only three years ago that the USA claimed its first Olympic title in women’s volleyball, sweeping arch rivals Brazil in three sets at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

However, that was a different tournament, held in a country on the other side of the world, under conditions more complex than what the team will face at Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“I think the Tokyo Olympics, first of all, was an incredible opportunity,” middle blocker Haleigh Washington told reporters on Tuesday 23 July. “It was definitely very different, but different can be good. Different is very unique, and I think it's something that we all hold near and dear to our hearts.”

Nonetheless, the liveliness around Paris 2024 is not to be understated, according to Washington.

“It's been very exciting being able to be in the village at kind of full capacity, really feeling the energy of everyone being around,” noted the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion. “It's exciting, kind of being able to compare and contrast the differences.”

While much has changed in the three years following Tokyo 2020, Team USA arrives in Paris ready for another unique Olympic experience.

Team USA: Defending champions or returning hopefuls?

It will certainly require more effort than a stroll down the Seine to bring Olympic gold back to the United States.

Drawn in Group A, the defending Olympic champions will face 2022 world champions Serbia, 2023 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League runner-ups People’s Republic of China and host nation France in their first three matches at Paris 2024.

While there is often increased pressure on the defending champions to repeat past success, coach Karch Kiraly has tried to reframe the conversation ahead of Team USA’s first match against China on Monday 29 July.

“Some people ask us about defending a gold medal, and I don't think there's anything to defend, but it certainly was amazing and an incredible experience for this program to win its first gold medal ever,” noted Kiraly, quipping, “it was so fun that we're back at it training again.”

Team USA will be led by eight players returning from Tokyo 2020, while an additional five will add a new flavor to the team. The change in personnel has caused a shift in the team’s approach to the Olympics, according to Kiraly.

“We don't approach this Olympics the same way we did from three years ago in Tokyo,” said the decorated coach. “Although we do have eight returning gold medalists from that team, but [I] can't be more excited about the makeup of this group and the 12 that we have who are on our official roster.”

Of course, there’s a lot more press attention and public curiosity paid to Team USA this time around.

Women’s volleyball: A sport taking the United States by storm

Volleyball has experienced an explosion of popularity in the USA, with collegiate teams and professional leagues cashing in on the increased domestic interest. It's a trend that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Team USA, said Kiraly.

“Incredibly exciting things are happening in volleyball, especially in women's volleyball, with something like the special event that was held last September," he said. "The University of Nebraska hosted that outdoor match — 92,003 people, the largest crowd ever to watch any women's sporting event.”

Indeed, the record-breaking match jump-started a collegiate volleyball craze that lasted until the final playoff match between the University of Texas and University of Nebraska, which netted an average of 1.69 million viewers, according to Sports Media Watch.

Veteran libero (defensive specialist) Kelsey Robinson echoed Kiraly's remarks, saying, “Volleyball is having a moment in the United States now, and we're going to see pro leagues coming more and more.

“The more I can share the life of what it is to be a professional volleyball player and all the things — the good and the bad, everything we go through — it's important for younger generations to see and also to know that it wasn't always easy.”

Still, Robinson will look to make the game seem effortless, along with her teammates, when taking to the court at South Paris Arena on Monday 29 July for Team USA’s first match of Paris 2024.

Win or lose, the team can be certain a volleyball-mad public at home will be watching.