The U.S. women’s basketball team is set to debut at the Paris Olympics this Monday with a match against Japan.
Caitlin Clark will not be on the bench as USA Basketball officials chose not to include the Indiana Fever rookie in the roster alongside the other WNBA stars. This decision has led to considerable backlash in the sports community, with claims of unfair treatment towards the standout player from WNBA veterans.
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of Team WNBA, observes prior to the 2024 WNBA All-Star game against the USA Basketball Women’s National Team at Footprint Center on July 20, 2024 in Phoenix. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The tension involving Clark seems to have eased recently. She has been spotted chatting with veteran players and mingling on the sidelines during the WNBA All-Star Game.
South Carolina women’s basketball head coach and former Team USA coach Dawn Staley mentioned in a Sunday interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico that Clark may have indeed earned a position on the team. Clark set a record with 19 assists in her last regular-season match before the All-Star break.
“As a committee member, your role is to assemble the most talented team,” Staley stated. “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA. While she wasn’t performing poorly, her current play level is exceptional. Given the opportunity for a re-evaluation, her current performance would make her a top candidate for the team.”
Dawn Staley, head coach for South Carolina, observes as First Lady Jill Biden meets with Team USA families ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 25, 2024 in Paris. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
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“She’s shooting exceptionally well, is an elite passer, possesses high basketball IQ, and is showing more maturity in her pro game than she did just a few months ago.”
By the time of the break, Clark was averaging 17.1 points and 8.2 assists per game for the Fever.
While Staley expressed some regret over not selecting Clark, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland stood by the decision to leave her off the roster.
“Considering the complete context, USA Basketball has maintained a highly disciplined selection process executed by those with unmatched knowledge of women’s basketball,” she told Bloomberg Business.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of Team WNBA, observes during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center on July 20, 2024 in Phoenix. (Dylan Goodman/NBAE via Getty Images)
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“I trust that they are making informed decisions. The women consistently bring home gold medals, and we hope they’ve made another wise choice for success.”
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