Caitlin Clark (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark received the disappointing news that she will not be a member of Team USA when the women’s basketball team travels to Paris for the Olympic Games.
She might not be able to play for Team USA, but she could play in the Olympics with another country.
Nizzi-Clark, Caitlin’s mother, is Italian.
Caitlin Clark is unlikely to make that reality.
Clark had some international experience with USA Basketball from an earlier age, but she was unable to join the national training camp in Cleveland when invited because she was guiding the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Final Four and the National Championship game for the second straight year. Clark concluded her career as the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer but failed to win it all.
If Clark is upset about the decision to leave her off the team, she certainly did not display it as she offered the team her best wishes in the competition.
“I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way,” she said. “I’m excited for them. I’m going to be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics. It will be fun to watch them.”
Asked if she was upset to hear the decision, the Indiana Fever guard replied: “Honestly, no disappointment.”
“I think it just gives you something to work for. You know, that’s a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there,” she said. “Hopefully in four years, when four years comes back around, I can be there.”
So far, the leaked roster for the team includes former WNBA MVPs, future Hall of Famers, and All-Stars including Diana Taurasi (Mercury), A’ja Wilson (Aces), Breanna Stewart (Liberty), Alyssa Thomas (Sun), Jewell Loyd (Storm), Napheesa Collier (Lynx), Kelsey Plum (Aces), Jackie Young (Aces), Brittney Griner (Mercury), Kahleah Copper (Mercury), Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty), and Chelsea Gray (Aces).
The decision to leave Clark off the team was met with mixed reactions in the sports world and many did not mince words about what they had to say.
Jemele Hill Says Caitlin Clark Not Being Chosen Is A “Good Thing”
The reaction to Caitlin Clark not making the Olympic team has garnered thousands of reactions.
Jemele Hill said Clark not playing for the gold medal is actually a “good thing for her,” as she posed on X.
“In the span of weeks, she went from playing college ball to becoming a professional to having a grind of schedule. A multi-week break probably isn’t the worst thing in the world,” Hill noted in an X post.
“I don’t consider Caitlin Clark being left off the Olympic team, a snub,” Hill added. “Now, when Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike were left off the Olympic teams, THAT was a snub. Nneka was league MVP, led Team USA in scoring a year before the Olympics, and was MVP of the FIBA qualifying tournament. CP had won two gold medals, was a former MVP and a champion. Think Nneka is the only WNBA MVP to not make an Olympic roster.”
