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A new sensation in women’s basketball and the WNBA, Caitlin Clark had a more than difficult start and was not selected by Team USA for the Paris Olympic Games. In this stormy context, Steve Kerr shared his thoughts on the subject.

Even if there will be no shortage of stars in the American men’s and women’s teams during the Paris Olympic Games, a major absence will cause a lot of discussion between now and then.

Despite her undeniable popularity and talent, Caitlin Clark was not invited.

 A choice so controversial that it led Team USA to provide the official reason , while other, more inflammatory explanations have been reported.

Steve Kerr bluntly on the Caitlin Clark case

Despite her status as a phenomenon and the extent of the enthusiasm surrounding her,

Clark does not seem very appreciated by her counterparts, who are intransigent towards her on the WNBA floors.

For some, this disenchantment with him would even have played a crucial role in his snobbery in view of the Olympics.

In the midst of all this agitation, Steve Kerr tried to put things into perspective on the microphone of Stephanie Ruhle and MSNBC :

I think it’s kind of a rite of passage for young players, whether it’s in the WNBA or the NBA.

Other players will inevitably try to test you. Actually, Caitlin reminds me a lot of Steph Curry.

Beyond her game focused on three-point shooting and her ball-in-hand genius, the nugget of women’s basketball would go through the same difficulties as Steph Curry in her debut:

Many people probably don’t remember this, but during his first few seasons in the league, Steph was not a superstar. He wasn’t who he is today.

He had to strengthen himself physically and understand that his opponents did not intend to give him the slightest gift. And I think that’s what’s happening with Caitlin right now.

Through this most prestigious comparison, Kerr certainly seeks to reassure Clark and his fans.

Thus, according to him, despite the mistrust she may face for the moment, she will eventually find her place in the big leagues:

I think it all fits into the spirit of competition, and Caitlin performs magnificently in that regard.

She’s an incredible player, but like any player coming from the college circuit to the WNBA or NBA, it takes time.

They must strengthen themselves physically and get used to the contact, to the physical and athletic aspect of the very high level.

All this to say that in my opinion, everything will go well for her. What she’s going through right now is just part of the process for a pro.

When many observers are concerned about the treatment reserved for Caitlin Clark in the WNBA and in women’s basketball in general, Steve Kerr only sees it as a usual protocol for young stars, worthy of that which Stephen Curry had to overcome .