Caitlin Clark has been excluded from the U.S. women’s basketball Olympic team for what many are calling a perplexing reason.
A report surfaced late Friday night revealing that Clark would not be among the 12 players selected for the Olympic team.
According to a story by USA Today’s Christine Brennan published on Saturday, one reason for Clark’s omission is USA Basketball’s concern over potential backlash if the popular Indiana Fever guard played only limited minutes during the Olympics.
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Two other sources, both long-time U.S. basketball veterans with decades of experience in the women’s game, told USA TODAY Sports Friday that concern over how Clark’s millions of fans would react to what would likely be limited playing time on a stacked roster was a factor in the decision making
Essentially, Clark’s high profile and large fanbase have paradoxically worked against her, as USA Basketball hesitates to manage the potential reactions to her underutilization.
Brennan also highlighted the generally scant media attention women’s basketball receives at the Olympics, noting that Clark’s inclusion could have significantly boosted coverage and interest.
This decision represents a classic case of “cutting off your nose to spite your face.” Amid calls from the women’s basketball community for higher pay and better travel conditions, like charter flights, it seems counterproductive to sideline a transformative star like Clark, thereby missing an opportunity to elevate the sport on a world stage.
This move leaves fans and observers questioning the logic and strategy of USA Basketball.
