Dawn Staley has confirmed that the USA women’s basketball committee possibly got it wrong by snubbing Caitlin Clark from the Olympics. For this one, we have to go all the way to Paris. Let’s get it, let’s go.
Dawn Staley is back in the headlines for her role in excluding Caitlin Clark from this year’s Olympics. The controversy has been brewing since the announcement that Caitlin Clark would not be joining the US Women’s Basketball team in Paris. The backlash has been intense, with people firing up the committee online. The situation escalated to the point where the United States Olympic CEO had to make a statement regarding Clark’s exclusion.
Dawn Staley appeared on NBC Today and admitted that the committee might have made a mistake in not including Caitlin Clark on the Olympic team. Staley mentioned that if they had to do it all over again, Clark might have been selected, considering her recent performance. This marks the first time a committee member has publicly acknowledged the possibility of an error in their decision.
Staley’s comments came after the United States finalized its 12-player Olympic squad on June 11. At that time, Caitlin Clark was averaging 16.3 points per game with a 37% shooting rate, along with 4.9 rebounds and 6 assists. Her stats didn’t make her a lock for the team, especially since she missed a critical training camp period in April while playing in the Final Four. However, her performance after the Olympic cut-off saw her averaging 17 points and 10 assists in 13 games, setting a single-game record for 19 assists in the All-Star game.
In her NBC interview, Staley said, “As a Committee Member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players, the best talent. Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA. She wasn’t playing badly, but she wasn’t playing like she’s playing now. If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing now, she would be in high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people, shooting the ball extremely well. I mean, she is an elite passer, has a great basketball IQ, and she’s a little more seasoned in the pro game now than she was two months ago.”
The decision to leave Caitlin Clark off the team has been heavily criticized. Christine Brennan of USA Today stated, “USA Basketball’s snub of Caitlin Clark was the worst player selection decision I’ve seen in my 40 years covering the Olympics. What a mistake.” Other critics have also weighed in, pointing out that Clark’s performance in college indicated she would excel in the WNBA and on the Olympic stage.
Despite the committee’s reliance on past performances and experience with the senior national team, many believe that Clark’s exclusion was a missed opportunity. Fans argue that Clark’s presence could have significantly boosted the team’s performance and popularity.
In the aftermath of this controversy, Dawn Staley has taken responsibility for the committee’s decision, acknowledging that they might have gotten it wrong. However, other committee members, including head coach Cheryl Reeve, have remained silent on the matter.
As the Olympic games continue, the debate over Caitlin Clark’s exclusion is likely to persist. The basketball community and fans will be watching closely to see how the US Women’s Basketball team performs and whether this decision will have long-lasting implications.
Stay tuned for more updates, and until next time, shake the haters off! Peace out.
