Decision to Leave Caitlin Clark Off US Olympic Team Draws Criticism

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides (L)and Caitlin Clark, who scored 30 points, celebrate after a 85–83 victory against the Washington Mystics in Washington on June 7, 2024. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The decision by U.S. Basketball to leave Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark off the 2024 Olympic squad that will compete in Paris this summer has drawn criticism among the media and fans.

Ms. Clark, the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s WNBA Draft, is currently the biggest star in women’s basketball and one of the most popular athletes in the nation.

Her inclusion on the team would likely have gathered more attention to the women’s basketball in the 2024 Olympics.

“In leaving Caitlin Clark off the 2024 Olympic team, USA Basketball misses a huge opportunity to showcase the most dominant—and ignored—team in sports,” Christina Brennan, a long-time reporter and columnist, wrote on social media. “I write this as someone who has reported on US women’s basketball at the Olympics since 1984.”

“Going into the Olympics, had Clark been on WBB roster, I think the top storylines for the Americans in Paris (and quite a few international reporters) would have been these: 1. Simone Biles, 2. Katie Ledecky 3. Caitlin Clark. (Toss in USWNT, MBB, etc.) That’s how big a deal this is.”

Ms. Clark, 22, was named the WNBA’s Rookie of the Month for May after leading all rookies with 17.6 points and 6.6 assists while grabbing 5.1 rebounds per game. Ms. Clark also tied for first in 3-pointers made among all WNBA players.

The U.S. women’s basketball team is experienced and does not have any players under the age of 26. Some of the more high-profile players named to the team include: A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), and Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces).

Some pundits have said that leaving Ms. Clark off the team was the right decision.

“Honestly, Caitlin Clark not being on this year’s Olympics team is actually a good thing—FOR HER,” Jemele Hill, contributing writer for The Atlantic, wrote on X. “In the span of weeks, she went from playing college ball, to becoming a professional, to having a grind of schedule. A multi-week break probably isn’t the worst thing in the world. She will eventually make an Olympic team.”

Ms. Clark has emerged as the most dynamic player in men’s and women’s basketball. Fans have flocked to her games in person and on TV because of her charisma.

The National Championship game between her Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks had 24 million combined viewers on ESPN and ABC—the first time in history that a women’s final drew a larger TV audience than the men’s, according to ESPN.

Now, expectations are that Ms. Clark will have the same impact on the WNBA and it’s already trending in that direction. 

Last season, the Fever of the WNBA averaged 4,067 fans per game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which can hold as many as 20,000 spectators. This year, the average resale ticket price to see the Fever play at home is $182, a 136 percent increase from the 2023 season, according to SeatGeek. 

Ms. Clark finished her career at Iowa as the top scorer in the history of men’s and women’s college basketball with 3,951 points and was a two-time NCAA women’s basketball Player of the Year. She finished with the highest career scoring average (28.42) in Division I history, passing Patricia Hoskins of Mississippi Valley State. 

Last season as a senior, Ms. Clark averaged 31.6 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game, leading Division I in scoring and assists. The Hawkeyes retired her No. 22 jersey number, making her the third player in program history to receive the honor.

There have been some growing pains in the WBNA and Ms. Clark has made more headlines after being the subject of some hard fouls. Overall, she is adjusting to the league and is averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds for the 3–9 Fever, who face Connecticut on Monday.

Ms. Clark, when asked about being left off the Olympic team, said her focus is getting better for Indiana and helping turn the Fever’s season around.

“I’m excited for the girls that are on the team,” Ms. Clark told reporters Sunday after the Fever’s practice. “I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way—me being on the team or me not being on the team. I’m going to be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, so it will be fun to watch them.

“Honestly, no disappointment. It just gives me something to work for; it’s a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully when four years comes back around, I can be there.”

Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides expects Ms. Clark to use the omission on the team as motivation to become an even better player.

“She got the call on the bus and she texted me to let me know and I just tried to keep her spirits up,” Ms. Sides said after the Fever’s practice on June 9. “The thing she said was ‘hey coach, they woke a monster,’ which I thought was awesome.”