The apparent reason why Caitlin Clark was left off the USA Basketball women’s team has been disclosed, and it will not please supporters.
Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s rookie standout, has been the talk of the women’s basketball world all year. Earlier this year, spectators were captivated by her amazing performance in leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship. She has been the subject of a heated debate in the WNBA in recent months, as her particular appeal has made her a divisive figure.
Now, the 22-year-old made news on Friday night after a prominent team passed up the opportunity to add her to their squad. It was announced yesterday that USA Basketball’s decision-makers plan to leave Clark off the Olympic squad this summer. It was a remarkable revelation for an organization that had previously placed college basketball star Christian Laettner on the initial 1992 men’s Dream Team roster.
The explanation behind her absence appears to have been explained, but it is unlikely to satisfy basketball fans who are perplexed by the decision.
“Concern over how Clark’s millions of fans would react to what would likely be limited playing time on a stacked roster was a factor in the decision-making,” sources told USA Today reporter Christine Brennan. “If accurate, it would be an amazing admission of the stress that this multimillion-dollar sensation, who signs autographs for dozens of youngsters before and after every game, has produced among the old generation of women’s basketball. Because of the sensitive nature of the situation, the two sources spoke on the condition of anonymity.
To add to the oddness of the decision, Brennan stated that women’s basketball is frequently disregarded during the Olympics, with sports media focusing instead on female gymnasts, swimmers, runners, and soccer players. Clark would have made a significant difference, even if she played only a few minutes.
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