Caitlin Clark Keeps Positive Attitude After Olympics Snub

Indiana Fever guard No. 22 Caitlin Clark speaks during a press conference before a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in New York City on May 18, 2024. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Caitlin Clark, a WNBA rookie for the Indiana Fever, has responded following news of her exclusion from the 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team.

Ms. Clark, who gained fame for her record-breaking collegiate career, said she was excited for the women selected for the team.

“I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way, of me being on the team or me not being on the team,” she told reporters after a recent practice. “I’m going to be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, so yeah, it will be fun to watch them.”

Ms. Clark was the No. 1 WNBA draft pick in April.

She expressed a positive outlook despite not being selected for the 12-woman roster. She mentioned that the decision gives her something to work toward and serves as motivation for the future.

On social media and sports forums, fans and analysts have expressed surprise and frustration over Ms. Clark’s omission.

Alexi Lalas, a retired U.S. soccer player and sports analyst, posted about the news on X.

“I don’t know enough about USA women’s Olympic basketball to know if Caitlin Clark’s omission is a snub,” he said. “I do know that, right now, she would be the only reason I would remotely care about USA women’s Olympic basketball.”

Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports posted a video to X discussing Ms. Clark’s popularity in the league, saying it didn’t make sense not to include her considering how many viewers she would have attracted to the Olympic women’s basketball competition.

“It’s not only a showcase for her, it’s for the sport and the other WNBA players who are on this team,” he said.

The Olympic Team

Since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the U.S. women’s basketball team has consistently clinched the gold medal.

In the upcoming Olympics, Team USA is expected to include veteran Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury, aiming for her sixth gold medal. Joining her is her Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner, marking her return to international play since her 10-month detention in Russia in 2022.

Also on the team are A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces; Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty; Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx; Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury; Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm; and Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun, the IndyStar reported.

Ms. Young and Ms. Ionescu, both 26, are the youngest players on the team. Like Ms. Clark, they were top picks in the WNBA Draft. This will be Ms. Ionescu’s first Olympics, while Ms. Young, a gold medalist with the U.S. 3-on-3 team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, is making her second appearance.

Since women’s basketball debuted at the 1976 Montreal Games, every U.S. Olympic roster has included at least two players under 25, according to ESPN. The youngest ever was Nancy Lieberman, who played at 18 in 1976. In the Tokyo Games, the youngest U.S. players were Ms. Wilson and Ms. Collier, both 24 at the time, the sports network reported.

The U.S. women’s basketball team has featured the No. 1 WNBA pick in recent Olympic years, such as Ms. Taurasi in 2004, Ms. Stewart in 2016, and Candace Parker in 2008. This wasn’t the case with Nneka Ogwumike in 2012 or Ms. Clark this year, ESPN reported.

Ms. Clark remains in the national team pool and could be chosen as an alternate if one of the 12 players is unable to participate due to injury.