The announcement of the 2024 US Olympic women’s basketball team roster came on Tuesday, and it came as no surprise that Caitlin Clark’s name was not included. Speculation had already spread on Saturday that Clark would not be representing USA Basketball at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Jen Rizzotti, the chair of the selection committee and also the president of the Connecticut Sun and head coach of the US women’s 3×3 team, addressed the decision to leave Clark off the roster. She responded to criticism suggesting that USA Basketball is missing an opportunity to promote and grow the WNBA by not selecting Clark.
Rizzotti stated, “Our focus was solely on how Clark would impact the team’s performance. It was not within our authority to determine how many viewers or supporters the US would gain. Our responsibility was to assemble the best team possible for head coach Cheryl Reeve.”
Despite being a rookie without any international experience, Clark displayed remarkable composure when questioned about not making the roster. She expressed her hope to one day compete in the Olympics and acknowledged that she will have more opportunities in the future, assuring that she will be prepared for them.
However, ESPN sports personalities Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe expressed their frustration with USA Basketball upon learning that Clark was not included in the roster. They criticized the organization for seemingly neglecting the growth of the WNBA by excluding the country’s most popular female basketball player.
Although promoting the WNBA is commendable, it is important to note that USA Basketball has a different objective. As mentioned by Rizzotti, their main goal is to assemble a highly skilled team that can achieve success in international competitions by winning medals, trophies, and championships. While they may involve WNBA players in their roster, it is crucial to understand that USA Basketball operates independently from the WNBA. If Smith and Sharpe were not aware of this distinction, a brief 15-second research would have clarified the matter. It is hoped that this small amount of time would not impede their preparation for their upcoming WNBA segment.