The superstar Indiana Fever rookie point guard is the top story of the 2024 WNBA season. So why isn’t she headed to Paris?
Indiana Fever rookie point guard Caitlin Clark, fresh off a dominant four-season collegiate run with the Hawkeyes, was reportedly not included on this year’s US Olympic squad ahead of the 2024 Paris games, in something of a shocking call. Now, we at least have a better sense as to why.
Christine Brennan of USA Today reports that Clark was omitted from this year’s 12-woman Olympic roster in large part because the program was concerned she would not necessarily carve out major rotation minutes among a loaded backcourt comprising New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu, Las Vegas Aces guards Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, Seattle Storm combo guard Jewell Lloyd, and Phoenix Mercury guards Diana Taurasi and Kahleah Copper.
This was a mistake.
The 6-foot rookie phenom is the top story in women’s basketball, and for an Olympics broadcast that has frequently struggled to draw eyeballs in recent years, bringing her along would add significant attention to Team USA.
