USA Basketball has announced the twelve players who will compete in the Olympic Games. This year’s top choice in the WNBA Draft did not make the list. The contentious decision has prompted tremendous criticism in the basketball scene in the United States. “I hope to be there in four years,” Clark remarked after hearing the news.
Basketball in the United States is on fire. Nobody fully gets USA Basketball officials’ decision to leave Caitlin Clark, the first pick in the WNBA Draft, off the list of players who will represent the country at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The controversial omission occurred on Tuesday, when the 12-woman roster for the Games was announced.
The decision not to feature Clark surfaced prior to its official announcement last week. It prompted outrage among US sports pundits and on social media. Clark, who joined the Indiana Fever this year following a great NCAA career, has helped enhance the popularity of the women’s game while also shattering attendance and television viewing records. Her scoring figures also broke records, thus it seemed natural that she would join the team despite being only 22 years old.
However, with a roster that included 15 Olympic gold medals, 18 Women’s World Cup crowns, and 55 WNBA All-Star appearances, USA Basketball went with experience.
“We have selected a team that we are confident will represent our country at the highest level in Paris,” said Jennifer Rizzotti, chair of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee, in a statement. The selection process was “challenging and competitive.”
The gold medal favorites will be led by veteran Diana Taurasi, who will be making her sixth consecutive Olympic appearance. She will be accompanied by nine Olympic gold medalists. The decision has created uproar, but Caitlin Clark has attempted to downplay it. “I’m excited for the girls that are on the team,” Clark remarked on Sunday.
“I understand it’s the most competitive squad in the world. I understand that whether or not I was on the squad, things could have turned out differently. I’ll be cheering for them to win gold. I spent my childhood watching the Olympics. “It will be enjoyable to watch,” she remarked.
Her statements were an attempt to alleviate the tensions that had been building since last weekend. “There’s no disappointment. It just gives me something to work toward; it’s a dream. I hope to be there one day. “Hopefully, in four years, I will be there,” she remarked.
The news leaked this week, but Indiana coach Christie Sides claimed that Clark was told of her Olympic ban on Friday, prior to the news breaking. “What she said was, ‘Hey, coach, you woke up a monster,’ which I thought was great,” Sides remarked.
The decision has divided the media, coaches, and players, and local journalists are causing controversy. Christine Brennan, a columnist for USA Today, claimed that keeping Clark off the roster was a “huge missed opportunity”. However, another party believes Clark should have more experience before being chosen.
