Viral TikTok Fuels Record Turnout for U.S. Women's Handball Trials Ahead of 2028 Olympics

TL;DR: Over 150 women attended the January handball trials, five times the usual turnout, after a TikTok video sparked interest. The U.S. women's team will compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, its first appearance since 1996.

Handball is a fast‑paced, full‑contact sport where six‑player teams pass a sticky‑resin ball to score goals, often drawing tens of thousands of spectators in Europe. While the game enjoys strong followings in Germany, France, Norway and the Balkans, it remains relatively unknown in the United States. USA Handball receives no direct funding from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, unlike every other Olympic sport’s national governing body.

As the host nation for the 2028 Games, the United States automatically qualifies a women's handball team, ending a 32‑year Olympic absence for the sport. The last U.S. women's squad appeared at the 1996 Atlanta Games, after which the program struggled to retain athletes and secure resources. Recent efforts have focused on rebuilding through a national residency program in Florida.

The January trials attracted more than 150 participants, a five‑fold increase over the typical turnout of roughly thirty athletes, driven by a viral TikTok clip that advertised “no experience necessary.” The video amassed hundreds of thousands of views within days, prompting many first‑timers to attend tryouts in Los Angeles. USA Handball is the only Olympic sport national governing body that does not receive any USOPC funding, forcing athletes to self‑finance travel, insurance and tournament fees.

The surge in interest expands the talent pool for coach Sarah Gascon’s residency program, where selected players train while maintaining full‑time jobs to cover living expenses. Gascon prioritizes recruiting multisport athletes—former basketball, volleyball or softball players—whose existing skills translate well to handball’s demands. The residency’s goal is to develop competitors capable of earning professional contracts overseas, a pathway many view as essential for Olympic competitiveness.

Despite the enthusiasm, financial constraints remain a hurdle; some athletes have missed tournaments because they cannot afford the costs. Gascon and her staff serve as volunteers, and the program relies on athlete sponsorships and personal savings to fill the funding gap. The lack of USOPC support also means the team does not gain access to elite athlete health insurance or centralized training centers.

Watch for the residency program’s first performance assessments later this spring and any developments in funding discussions that could shape the team’s readiness for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.