In an unprecedented scramble to field a competitive team for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the United States women's handball programme threw open its doors to complete novices. The result was an overwhelming surge of interest, with more than a hundred athletes, most of whom had never touched a handball, arriving at a tryout session in Los Angeles.
The Unprecedented Open Call for Athletic Talent
Monae Hendrickson, a 30-year-old former rugby player, walked into the tryout expecting a handful of curious beginners. Instead, she found a gym swarming with over a hundred women, many of whom looked like elite track and field athletes. The reason for this unique recruitment drive is simple: as the host nation for the 2028 Games, the US is guaranteed a spot in every sport, including handball—a fast-paced, physical game popular in Europe but virtually unknown in America.
With no existing pool of professional players to draw from, USA Team Handball is hunting for raw athletic potential. "It was about potential athleticism," Hendrickson told the Daily Mail. "About 95 percent of the people there were just like me. They had never played handball before." The tryout, which Hendrickson documented on social media to millions of views, was less about existing skill and more about identifying individuals who could withstand two years of intensive training.
A Movement Beyond Sport: Funding the Olympic Dream
Head coach Sarah Gascon, a veteran with over two decades in the sport, said she had never witnessed such an explosion of interest. "It wasn't just a tryout. It was this massive movement of women supporting women," Gascon revealed, adding that some participants were moved to tears, thanking her for the opportunity to reconnect with competitive sport.
However, the inspiring turnout starkly contrasts with the programme's severe financial reality. Coach Gascon stated bluntly, "We receive zero money." Athletes must fund their own travel, lodging, and equipment, while juggling full-time jobs around training that should be their profession. Gascon estimates the team needs at least $250,000 to cover this year's costs and closer to $1 million to run a proper programme, leading to the launch of a GoFundMe campaign.
What Comes Next for America's Handball Hopes?
The tryout process is far from over. The next national tryout is scheduled for Fort Pierce, Florida, on February 14 and 15. For most of the women who attended the LA session, the goal is not necessarily an Olympic medal in 2028, but rather the chance to be part of building a team from the ground up and rediscovering the joy of high-level competition.
As for Hendrickson, despite her height being below the average for elite players, the experience has reignited her athletic spirit. And with social media followers suggesting she try cricket next, she's open to the idea. The LA tryouts have proven one thing: when given a chance, American athletes are eager to answer the call, even for a sport they are just discovering.
