As Indiana Fever rookie point guard Caitlin Clark continues rising to WNBA stardom, yet another controversy gets her name in the headlines, that being Clark’s omission from the 2024 Olympic Team USA Women’s Basketball team.
Since The University of Iowa advanced to the Championship Round of the 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament, it seems that all anyone can talk about in women’s sports is their star guard, Caitlin Clark.
Photo courtesy of Greg Fiume/Getty Images
Clark is now in the WNBA playing for the 3-10 Indiana Fever, and her professional career has been okay so far at best. The Indiana Fever were historically bad last season to get her with first overall pick to begin with, so naturally the wins aren’t there from a team perspective.
However, she is still undeniably the most talked about, popular, recognizable, and perhaps even the most significant player in the WNBA from a cultural perspective.
Clark is currently averaging 16.3 points per game, 6 assists per game, and 4.9 rebounds as a guard, while shooting 37.3% from the field, 33% from three point territory, and 89.7% from the free throw line.
Given her popularity and her stats, some fans and media alike were stunned, dare I say gobsmacked at her omission from the 2024 USA Women’s Olympic Team.
While I can see and understand the argument for Clark making it, I think outrage regarding her omission is unjustified.
Olympic Team Without Caitlin Clark
To begin this piece, we must first look at The 2024 Olympic Team USA Women’s Basketball roster.
Photo courtesy of US Women’s Basketball
This is the most recent roster, I will briefly go player by player, but first I need to point out that, due to the ongoing WNBA season, this may not be the final roster, as in all sports injuries are quite common and replacements may need to be used to fill in gaps.
The US is the seven time reigning gold medalists and the recent explosion of women’s basketball popularity means the pressure is on them now more than ever.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces is probably the best player on this roster. At the time of me writing this, Wilson is leading The WNBA in points per game with 28.3 and second behind Dearica Hamby in rebound per game with 11.4, obviously she’s not getting cut. Wilson was also a gold medalist for the 2020 Olympic games (played in 2021 due to Covid-19), along with being named a tournament All Star.
32 year old forward Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun, has been off to a terrific start for the first place Sun, averaging 12.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. This will be Thomas’ Olympic debut, she previously won gold in the FIBA Women’s World Cup for Team USA.
29-year-old New Yorker, Breanna Steawrt of the New York Liberty, is the reigning WNBA MVP won the Award in 2018, won Tournament MVP in the 2020 Olympic Games, the 6 ‘4 power forward is averaging 18.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game this season. Another shue in for the Olympic team.
33 year old center Britney Griner made headlines in 2022 when she was detained in Russia for alleged drug smuggling charges, she was exchanged for arms dealer Viktor Bout, and returned to the US, she has since continued to play for the Phoenix Mercury, currently averaging 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, Griner won gold for her work in The 2020 Olympic Games.
Photo courtesy of Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
31 year old guard Chelsea Gray, of the reigning WNBA Championship winning Las Vegas Aces, is averaging 15.3 Points, 4 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while shooting 49% from the field, 42.1% from three, both of which significantly higher than Caitilin Clark’s shooting splits. Gray is also a reigning gold medalist.
Arguably one of the greatest Women’s basketball players of all time, 41 year old guard Diana Taurasi of The Phoenix Mercury, is slated to play in her sixth consecutive Olympic games, all of which she has won gold, in her 20th WNBA season playing guard for the Phoenix Mercury. Taurasi is averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, the former 2004 first overall pick is obviously in the twilight of her career, but still the captain and leader of this team.
26 year old guard and reigning Most Improved Player Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces, is putting together a solid 2024 campaign averaging 16.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. This will be Young’s first Olympics.
The Seattle Storm’s guard Jewell Lloyd will be making her second Olympic appearance after playing in 2021. The 30 year old veteran is averaging 20.3 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 rebounds per game, another Olympic lock.
29-year-old Mercury guard/forward Kahleah Copper is making her Olympics debut, however she was on the 2022 gold medal winning World Cup team. Copper is averaging 24 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game.
29 year old Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum has averaged 18.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Plum is a two time World Cup gold medalist making her Olympic debut.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is scoring 20.8 points, hauling in 10.9 rebounds, dishing out 3.8 assist, and getting 2 steals on a nightly basis. Collier is also a returing memember of the 2020 Olympic team.
Lastly, we have Sabrina Ionescu, guard for the New York Liberty and most known for going against The NBA’s best three point shooter ever, Stephen Curry in a three point contest at the NBA’s All Star Weekend. The 26 year old guard is scoring 17.8 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists as she contonues to be one of the most recognized WNBA stars.
Who Could Caitlin Clark Replace?
Anytime in sports we see “top X Blank”, this all star team, that all star team, power rankings, etc. everyone gets up in arms about something, but have you ever asked yourself, “who ya taking out?”, if the roster was bigger Clark would likely be in, but it’s not.
However, in the interest of fairness to those who disagree, and believe she should be in, here are some players I can see the argument for.
While Kelsey Plum is extremely accomplished, and a reigning Olympic 3×3 Women’s Basketball gold medalist, I can argue she is likely one of the players most fitting of being replaced by Caitlin Clark.
Plum is having a down year, and statically they are about the same. I would imagine that there being three other Las Vegas Aces on the roster means they could be prioritizing continuity, not just WNBA level experience.
I would still give the nod to Plum, she has more experience in big games, she’s a reigning two time WNBA champion looking for a three peat with the Aces, and is a better defender than Caitlin Clark, which is expected.
I can also see an argument for Clark over Jackie Young, once again they have similar statistical profiles, however, like Plum, Young is also regular season teammates with a good chunk of this roster, and the Olympics happen mid WNBA season.
The WNBA has a brief intermission from July 21st to August 14th for the Olympics, they do not have time to work through team chemistry, they need to find success mid-stream.
Why Caitlin Clark Should Be On The Olympic Team
Caitlin Clark’s popularity is astonishing and her stats back it up.
Her shooting percentages could be better aside from that, Clark’s 16.3 points per game, 6 assists per game, and 4.9 rebounds as a guard, while shooting 37.3% from the field, 33% from three point territory, and 89.7% from the free throw line, is more than just passable it is borderline All Star caliber, not a lock, but certainly worthy of discussion.
I’ve been consistently watching The WNBA for a few years now and she’s gotten more national coverage than any player I can think of, save for Britney Griner who got coverage for something that happened off the court.
Teams like the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun have had to move venues to cater to fans wanting to watch The Indiana Fever.
Clark’s jersey became the highest selling rookie jersey on Fanatics this year, across all sports, the first time a WNBA player accomplished the feat.
Sometimes you need to do what is good for the brand rather than what is good for the other players.
For example, steroids in baseball are treated as a cardinal sin, while nobody cares in The NBA, MMA, or NFL.
Don’t believe me? Ask Jon “Bones’ ‘ Jones or Deandre Hopkins how they got treated.
Meanwhile Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens who never served a suspension are kept out of the hall of fame, and treated as lepers to the sanctity of the game, destorying MLB’s reputation.
Caitlin Clark is the best commercial in the history of The WNBA, there’s no arguing that.
Yes there are other prominent rookies in The WNBA this year like Cameron Brink and Angel Reese, but there’s a reason why and so many other people are writing about Clark and not them.
Fans speak with their wallets, and the ratings for Clark’s games, the most viewed WNBA draft night ever, and other more economic based factors will make the argument for Clark.
If someone is making the argument that Caitlin Clark should be on the roster, specifically from a cultural standpoint, there is not much of a counter.
However is sports not always touted as being a meritocracy?
Why Caitlin Clark Should Not Be On The Olympic Team
The name I keep seeing people whine about is Diana Taurasi.
Diana Taurasi is an inner circle hall of famer, 5 time Olympic Gold Medalist, 3 time WNBA Champion, 2 time WNBA Finals MVP, 2009 regular season MVP, 10 time All Star, 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 10 time All WNBA First team, 4 time All WNBA Second Team, 5 time WNBA scoring champion, 3 time NCAA Champion, 7 time Euro League Champion, among many other awards and accolades.
She has a legitimate argument for being the greatest WNBA player ever.
If she wants to play let her play.
On top of the historical reason for Taurasi to stay, she could also be a terrific mentor to Clark.
Taurasi went first overall to Phoenix in the 2004 WNBA draft, and went on to win Olympic gold that same year, she’s been where Caitlin Clark is.
We hear stories all the time about how the Men’s olympic basketball team teaches younger players how to take that next step from good to star, from star to great, a player with the pedigree and resume of Taurasi can help Clark take those steps.
I could see the media sideshow surrounding Clark being a reason for keeping her off the team.
It is clear players in The WNBA want her to earn her stripes in “The W” not just in The NCAA, you know and I know if she was on the roster, fans and media would be calling for her to play in the games, and probably get meaningful minutes, which is not always productive considering if she was on the team, she would certainly be the twelfth spot.
Not to mention, there could be a chemistry issue, once again there is not a set training camp like the Men’s team, and most of the current roster have played together in past international tournaments.
It is telling that no rookie is on the roster, considering this draft is talked about as being one of the best in WNBA history.
Chicago Sky forward and Clark’s college “nemesis”, Angel Reese is averaging 12.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
While Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink, is averaging 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while being a defensive anchor blocking 2.9 shots per game, which ranks second in the league behind Seattle’s Australian forward center Ezi Magbegor, who has 3 blocks per game.
The USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee has been pretty clear about prioritizing veteran experience, and I agree.
If Reese, Brink or another rookie were on the team over her I would probably be on the other side of the issue, although even then they do not all play the same position.
Final Thoughts on Caitlin Clark
At some point you have to save the fighter from themself, and one could argue rushing Clark onto the biggest stage like this could be detrimental.
She’s coming off a long NCAA season with very little time between the draft and The WNBA’s opening day, many players in the league feel like she’s getting too much attention., and most importantly other players are just better.
I know this was a long winded column for an otherwise cut and dry topic, but for those of you new to the WNBA party, first welcome, second get familiar with those names on the US roster, the league is bigger than just Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
I see many players and pundits say that, yet they do not talk up the talent they acknowledge, this team is loaded and I expect another gold, with or without Clark.
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