The USA Basketball has announced its 15-player training squad but Griner, who returned home in December following a longdetainment in Russia, has been left off the list.

Griner is aiming to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) for Phoenix Mercury this season, boosting hopes of a possible return to the US set-up before Paris 2024.

The 32-year-old was arrested at a Moscow airport in February last year, a week before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and handed a nine-year sentence after cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage.

She had been returning to play in the Russian Premier League for basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the off season of the WNBA competition in the US.

After spending 10 months in detention, Griner was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a prisoner swap between to the US and Russia.

Griner was part of the US team that claimed gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 but has not made the USA Basketball’s training squad.

Diana Taurasi, who will be 42 years old when the Olympics take place in Paris next year, is among the 15 players selected for the camp in Minneapolis.

She is a five-time Olympic champion having claimed gold at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Elena Delle Donne, Angel McCoughtry, Ariel Atkins, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Allisha Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Natasha Howard, Marina Mabrey, Arike Ogunbowale and Brianna Turner have also been named in the team.

The US will be seeking a 10th women’s basketball gold and eighth in succession at Paris 2024.