The 2024 Paris Olympics may have just ended, but it’s never too soon to start looking into the future. In 2024, Maryland was one of the top states to send Olympians to Paris, and with the United States hosting the games in Los Angeles in 2028, there’s even more motivation for some athletes to make the team and compete in their home country.

It’s also worth noting that baseball will return to the Olympics in 2028 and flag football will be introduced to the Games as well. It’s currently unknown whether MLB and the NFL will allow their players to compete, but if they do, Baltimore stars like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Lamar Jackson could suit up for Team USA.

Here are some of the big names who could represent Maryland and Team USA in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics:

NANTERRE, FRANCE - AUGUST 03: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using an underwater robotic camera.) Katie Ledecky of Team United States competes in the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on August 03, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Katie Ledecky competes in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Katie Ledecky, swimming, Bethesda

While Ledecky was one of the oldest swimmers for Team USA competing this summer, she’s still only 27. If she stays on track with her training, Ledecky could easily return for one more Olympics. She’s already spoken about wanting to experience competing in front of a home crowd after seeing how excited French fans were to support their country’s competitors.

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Ledecky will be 31 in 2028, the same age Michael Phelps was at his last Olympics. There’d be no better way to celebrate the best female swimmer’s career than sending her off in an Olympics in her home country.

Erin Gemmell competes in the Women’s 200m Freestyle semifinals on July 28. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Erin Gemmell, swimming, Potomac

Gemmell, at just 19 years old, is already a silver medalist in the 4x200m freestyle relay, but she’ll likely carve out a bigger role for herself in 2028. She has three more years of eligibility to swim for Texas, one of the best swimming schools in the country. After missing the 2024 World Aquatics Championship, likely due to conflicts with the NCAA Championships, Gemmell will have another opportunity to compete internationally at the 2025 championships in Singapore.

Angel Reese #5 of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky looks to pass against the Seattle Storm. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Angel Reese, basketball, Randallstown

The current WNBA rookie will be a strong contender to make the U.S. women’s basketball team in four years if she can continue to impress in the pros. Reese gained experience playing for USA Basketball when she helped them win the silver in the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup, and was the second-best rebounder in the tournament with 11.1 boards per game.

Quincy Wilson competes in the Men’s 4x400m relay Round 1 on Aug. 9. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Quincy Wilson, track and field, Bowie

Wilson got his first gold medal before he got his driver’s license. How many will he have before he turns 21? The young track phenom will be 20 years old in 2028 and likely much stronger and faster than he is now. He’s already broken the under-18 record for the 400 meters twice, and will have many more opportunities to break it again in the next two years as he competes for the Bullis School.

Masai Russell celebrates winning the gold medal in the Women’s 100m hurdles final. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Masai Russell, track and field, Potomac

Russell, who won gold in the 100m hurdles in Paris, will be 28 years old in 2028 to defend her title. However, a different career might be in the picture for Russell, who is a member of the WWE’s inaugural NIL program that seeks to give college athletes a career in professional wrestling.

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Juliette Whittaker, left, and Isabella Whittaker pose outside Mount de Sales Academy, where friends and supporters attended a send-off event before the sisters head to Paris to compete in the Olympics.
Juliette Whittaker, left, and Isabella Whittaker pose outside Mount de Sales Academy, where friends and supporters attended a send-off event before the sisters headed to Paris to compete in the Olympics. (Rachel Sweeney, Mount de Sales Academy)

Juliette and Isabella Whittaker, Laurel

The sister duo didn’t have the best showing in 2024, with Juliette finishing seventh in the 800-meter finals and Isabella not being chosen from the relay pool, but at 20 and 22 years old, respectively, they have plenty of time in their track careers. Juliette has two more years of eligibility to run at Stanford, while Isabella is done competing collegiately after four years at Penn.

Khoi Young competes on the rings on Day 1 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials on June 27. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Khoi Young, gymnastics, Bowie

An alternate for the 2024 men’s gymnastics team, Young has already experienced some of what the Olympics has to offer this summer, likely giving him extra motivation to make the team in four years. The 21-year-old helped Team USA win the bronze in the 2023 World Championships and has a pair of silver medals in vault and pommel horse from the event.

Goalie Jack Fracyon #50 of the Penn State Nittany Lions gets ready for play from Aidan Danenza #88 of the Duke University Blue Devils during the Division I Men’s Lacrosse Semifinals on May 27, 2023. (Larry French/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Jack Fracyon, lacrosse, Annapolis

With sixes bringing a form of lacrosse to the 2028 Games, there’s bound to be at least one player from Maryland on the team. Fracyon, a sophomore at Penn State, is already one of the best goalies in the country and was recently invited to join the USA Lacrosse sixes camp ahead of international exhibition games in October. Fracyon finished his sophomore season with 222 saves and .562 save percentage.

Trinity McPherson #21 of the Denver Pioneers runs during player introductions before the Division I Women’s Lacrosse semifinals against the Northwestern Wildcats on May 26, 2023. (John Joyner/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Trinity McPherson, lacrosse, Baltimore

McPherson played four years at Johns Hopkins and two at Denver, both top teams in women’s college lacrosse. She was one of the players invited to the women’s sixes camp that took place in June. As a defender, McPherson is elite at winning draw controls and causing turnovers. She ranks ninth in Denver history with 146 draw controls, even though she was only with the program for two seasons.