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Brittney Griner will not play for the US Olympic team this summer

NCAA Womens Final Four Baylor Notre Dame Basketball

Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) cuts the net down during the second half in the NCAA Women’s Final Four college basketball championship game against Notre Dame, in Denver, Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Baylor won the championship 80-61. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AP

Brittney Griner, who could very well be the most dominating women’s basketball player in our country, will not participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics with Team USA.

Late last month, a roster for the team was released with 11 of the 12 members, leading to speculation that Griner could be the piece that completed the team. Not so.

“Because of a family illness and my school schedule during the summer, I have told USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director, Carol Callan, that I will be unable to participate this summer,” Griner said in a statement released by the school. “I am disappointed that I will be unable to participate, but I want to stay involved in USA Basketball and hope to again have the opportunity to represent my country in future international competition.”

Leaving spots open is not an uncommon practice. In 2008, only nine members of the team were initially announced.

Of the 11 members currently on the roster, five of them -- Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Swin Cash, Maya Moore and Tina Charles -- are former UConn Huskies. All five helped the United States clinch a berth in the Olympics in 2010.

Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.