The guard pool too deep for rookie to replace veteran on the talented U.S. women’s basketball roster.
Three WNBA rookies have made Olympic rosters since the league’s inaugural season in 1997.
Diana Taurasi did in 2004.
Next was Candace Parker in 2008.
The last was Breanna Stewart in 2016.
Caitlin Clark was believed by many to be the next rookie to compete for an Olympic gold medal. So when news broke Saturday that she would not be one of the 12 players to represent Team USA in Paris, the response was what you’d imagine: utterly chaotic.
Every take from players being jealous of Clark — an odd one considering a six-member panel chooses the Olympic roster — to Team USA missing a marketing opportunity was paraded and posted by people who think they have a clue and others who are paid to have one. The answer to one question should have saved us all from the headache.
Is Clark one of the top 12 players available to represent Team USA?
The answer, plain and simple, is no.
If that’s not enough for you, consider this: The 12 players on the roster have been competing together in the Olympic pool for the last three years.
Going back to 2022, the U.S. has held multiple camps. The USA Basketball women’s national team won its fourth consecutive World Cup in October 2022.
