Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has strongly criticized USA Basketball for not including Caitlin Clark on their Olympic team roster for the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.
Clark, who was the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, did not make the final 12-person roster, prompting Portnoy to label the decision as “insanely dumb.”
“How dumb are these people?” Portnoy questioned. He further criticized the organization, saying, “Never complain about women’s salaries ever again. Make that team fly commercial. Unreal dumb.”
Portnoy also expressed his disinterest in watching the U.S. women’s basketball team without Clark, comparing it unfavorably to watching grass grow or paint dry. “If she’s there, it’s appointment TV. You people, whoever made this decision, should have your brains put in a museum to study how dumb you are,” he added.
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Echoing Portnoy’s sentiment, Fox Sports 1 host Colin Cowherd commented on the oversight, comparing it to Christian Laettner’s inclusion on the Dream Team. “Caitlin Clark can’t make the women’s Olympic basketball team? What mostly pays for the Olympics — oh wait — revenue generated from broadcasting partners. As in TV. As in Caitlin is TV GOLD. Opportunity wasted,” he wrote.
The controversy surrounding Clark’s exclusion highlights the intense debate over the selections for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which are set to start next month in Paris.
