Basketball
Caitlin Clark’s Omission From USA Olympics Team Stirs Controversy
by privatebet.com - 2024/06/13
Team USA announced their women's basketball team roster for the Paris Olympics, and one notable name was missing from the list. The breakout star Caitlin Clark didn’t make the cut despite being selected as the first overall pick in the recent 2024 WNBA draft, and her exclusion stirred controversy among WNBA fans. Before joining the Indiana Fever as the first overall pick, Clark found success as part of a junior national team. She was the only college player to receive an invitation from the U.S. national team for the Summer Olympics training camp but eventually failed to make the roster. The list of players who made the cut includes five-time Olympic gold medal winner Diana Taurasi, along with first-time Olympians Sabrina Ionescu, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper. Caitlin Clark’s omission stirred so much commotion that selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti had to address it publicly, telling The Associated Press that several factors came into play when selecting the roster, including playing ability, position played, and adaptability to the international game. Clark herself doesn’t seem to harbor any hard feelings toward the committee, and she’s looking forward to improving and making the team in the future. “I think it just gives you something to work for. It’s a dream. Hopefully, one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully, when four years comes back around, I can be there,” Clark told reporters after practice on Sunday.