Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is not expected to be on the roster for the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team when the squad competes next month in Paris, according to multiple media reports.
Team USA officials apparently decided to go with experience, stocking the roster with 12 Olympic veterans and WNBA all-stars. According to the reports, the youngest player is 26-year-old Sabrina Ionescu, one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in the league; while 41-year-old Diana Taurasi has excelled in international competition for more than 20 years and has five Olympic gold medals.
The Associated Press also reported that the 22-year-old Clark would not be a part of the team, citing a person familiar with the decision.
Taking in account a 30-point outburst on Friday night against the Washington Mystics, Clark has averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 5.6 turnovers in her first 12 WNBA games. The No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft for this season, Clark was named the WNBA’s rookie of the month for May.
Clark finished her college career earlier this year as the all-time leading scorer in Division I basketball. She also won two consecutive National Player of the Year awards.
Clark does have some international experience with USA Basketball at a younger level, but she couldn’t attend the national training camp in Cleveland after she was invited because she was leading Iowa to the Final Four.
The U.S. women’s team at the Summer Olympics reportedly will consist of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper.
According to The Athletic, selected players began receiving their Team USA Olympics jerseys recently. The U.S. women have won every gold medal in women’s basketball since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
USA Basketball will play Japan in its Olympics opener July 29; the gold medal game is scheduled for Aug. 11.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
It’s a bit ironic that Britney Griner is playing for the US Olympic Team.
Why is it ironic? She is an American citizen who is a talented basketball player, and meets the requirements for participating as a member of the Olympic team. Is it because she is a black woman? Is it because she is openly gay? Is it because she exercises her right to free speech and calls out racism, sexism and homophobia?
David S. Seriously! You’re a divider. Currently, She’s injured…. Why do you see color first??
My thoughts exactly Anthony.
Gives Caitlin an opportunity to rest up from the recent string of foul play
Women’s basketball advocates: “why don’t people take us seriously?!?”
Vicki R. +1
Good luck to all the girls and women that got selected to be on the team. Too bad the short sighted selection group couldn’t see past their biases and new racial-political mind games.
Didn’t the experienced Olympic players get their experience by playing in the Olympics when they were young and had energy? A 41 year old still playing when we have the highest scoring college women in history not selected.?
Obviously I’m not in charge, and obviously the selection committee remains in some weird denial fog.
Chelsea Gray is also injured. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Caitlin named as an alternate closer to game time. I understand she is new to the WNBA, but she has brought the league and players more attention than they’ve ever had. It would be nice to see her acknowledged as one of the best things to happen to that organization–maybe ever.