Yes, the omission of both Sims and Loyd is pretty surprising, especially since Loyd is outplaying teammate Sue Bird, and Sims is getting better and better. You'd think that the committee and head coach would want to be building for the future. Sue hasn't really been a dominating point guard for a few years now. She's fifth in assets in the league, but well down in scoring.
I think this roster is a risk. The team composed is hoping for one last push from aging stars. And the omission of Parker can't be explained by anyone, without resort to innuendo and rumor.
It's not a healthy situation they've created. Fingers crossed for an Olympic championship. But we'll see...
Team USA doesn't want a Loyd or Sims playing point guard spending three quarters of their time on offense trying to create their own shot - they have 4 better shooting options on the floor at all times, and want the PG distributing the ball to the best option all the time. Heck, even Seattle doesn't want Loyd playing point except when Sue takes a rest.
People keep looking at WNBA stats and teams and translating what is happening there to what happens on the NT - the only team that comes close to that situation is MN because they spend a lot of time with for NT players on the court at the same time - replace the fifth player on the court in those situations with ... pick one ... DT, Tina, EDD, Angel, etc. and you begin to see what USA is looking for.
Loyd going off for 19 points while Maya, DT, Tina, BG, Siemone sit around and watch and hope that she remembers to pass to them occasionally (2.8 assists per game) and not to the second row of fans (3.6 TOs per game is not a winning NT approach. Sims (18 ppg, 3 apg, 3.3 TO/g) is the same story.
You want to make an argument to replace Whalen or Bird, the only active healthy player who has such an argument in my mind is Vandersloot, and I will choose the experience over a slight edge in WNBA assists all the time.
You want to take Loyd or Sims, argue that they should replace DT.
You want to take CP, argue that Catchings should be dropped, but then you will have to ignore the WNBA history that says she has been able to 'will' her less talented Indiana team to multiple finals and championships including last year, than CP has been able to do with her great coach and talented LA roster.