5 standout players in the Paris Olympics who should be in the WNBA

The WNBA season restarts Thursday after nearly taking a month off for the Paris Olympics.

Throughout the last two weeks, women’s basketball has seen some of the best players in the world authoring big performances in the quest for a gold medal.

While many of the top players compete in the WNBA, there are still several who could make a WNBA team or have been shut out from playing this season.

Due to the league’s prioritization rule, some of these top international players have been forced to pick between playing overseas or in the WNBA.

The rule, which is outlined in the league’s collective bargaining agreement, forces veteran players to pick between the W season and overseas leagues that run into April. Players can no longer arrive late to WNBA training camp because they are playing overseas, where top players can make north of $1 million per season compared to the average WNBA salary of a little more than $100,000. Top players in the WNBA can earn significantly more with league and team marketing deals, bonuses and prize pool money.

Here are several international 2024 Olympians who could make an impact in the WNBA:

Gabby Williams, France

One of the several players affected by the prioritization rule, Gabby Williams declared last season with the Seattle Storm that she wouldn’t be returning for the 2024 season due to that rule.

Williams has played five seasons in the WNBA, three with the Chicago Sky, and had her best season last year with 8.4 points per game for the Storm. She’s been one of the premier players for the host country with 14.8 points and 2.8 steals per game.

Alexis Peterson, Germany

In Germany’s first foray into the Olympics, Peterson sparked her team with her quick pace and ability to find the rim. Peterson averaged 13.8 points and 5.0 assists per game.

Peterson played 17 games for the Storm in 2017 and has signed two training contracts since, including one with the Phoenix Mercury in 2019 and another with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023. Her ability to find her teammates and quick release would be welcomed by many rosters.

Emma Meesseman, Belgium

The anchor of a tough Belgium squad, Meesseman showed that she hasn’t skipped a step since 2022, her last season in the WNBA.

Meesseman made it tough for opponents as she led Belgium to its first-ever semifinal and averaged 23.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Since winning Finals MVP as a bench player for the Washington Mystics in 2019, Meesseman has only played two WNBA seasons: one with the Mystics in 2020, and another with the Sky in 2022. She hasn’t returned since due to her obligations with the national team and growing the game in her country.

Marine Johannes, France

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Johannes made herself known as a trusted sixth player for the New York Liberty. Since returning to the team in 2022, the guard helped the Liberty win the Commissioner’s Cup and go to the WNBA Finals last year.

She wasn’t able to play this year because of the prioritization rule, but a return to the Liberty isn’t out of the question.

The Liberty boast a bevy of options, but adding Johannes back would further the super team. Johannes has averaged 12.2 points in five games and has two games where she’s shot five 3-pointers.

Ezinne Kalu, Nigeria

The American-born guard for Nigeria wore down opponents with her fast and free style of play. Kalu played a big role in Nigeria becoming the first African nation, men’s or women’s, to make the knockout stage in basketball and finished with 18.5 points and 2.5 steals per game.

The 32-year-old had tried to make the league in 2015 when she put her name in for the draft, but she went unselected. Since then, she’s played overseas in Portugal, Hungary, Germany and France.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 standout players in the Paris Olympics who should be in the WNBA