As one of the WNBA’s biggest names, Caitlin Clark would undoubtedly draw in many viewers for the 2024 Summer Olympics and some think that not having her on the women’s basketball team was a foul move. Journalist Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports tweeted, “Leaving Caitlin Clark off Olympic team is terrible for NBC Sports, which is paying billions for U.S. TV rights. She would have absolutely super-charged Olympic TV audiences the way she did in college and now in the pros. Short-sighted doesn’t begin to describe this decision.” However a fan argued, “She’s simply not good enough. Top rookies in the NBA wouldn’t make Team USA either. Let’s not disrespect the game because of popularity.” Another wrote, “She’s got better numbers right now than 41 year old Diana Taurasi who will be in her SIXTH Olympics. Was 5 Olympics not enough for Taurasi?”
The Olympics roster certainly has a team full of vets. Along with Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner, and Jackie Young have played in the quadrennial athletic event before. Sabrina Ionescu, Kahleah Copper, and Alyssa Thomas are the only basketball players who will compete for the first time. However, the one thing that the Olympics newbies have over Clark is more experience playing for the WNBA, and that’s the exact reason she wasn’t this year’s pick.
