Minnesota Lynx and current Team USA women’s basketball coach Cheryl Reeve had a terse exchange with a reporter who posed a seemingly straightforward question about rookie standout Caitlin Clark on Sunday.
Just hours before the Lynx were set to face off against the Indiana Fever, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf asked Reeve about Clark’s potential future as an Olympian, inquiring if the young star could see herself representing Team USA in the upcoming Paris Games.
Reeve, visibly uninterested in discussing national team matters, responded sharply, “Why the hell would I answer a national team question? I’m wearing Lynx. And I’m the head coach of the national team, but I’m not the chair of the committee. Anybody want to venture into anything else?”
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Clark’s absence from the Olympic roster has been a hot topic, with many fans and analysts debating whether the Fever rookie deserves a spot on the 12-woman team heading to Paris this summer.
Reeve’s point underscores her non-involvement in the selection process for the Olympic team. The 2024 USA basketball selection committee, responsible for picking the squad, includes committee chair Jen Rizzotti, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, and retired Olympians Seimone Augustus and Delisha Milton-Jones, among others.
“It would be irresponsible for us to talk about [Caitlin Clark] in a way other than how she would impact the play of the team,” Rizzotti said in June. “Because it wasn’t the purview of our committee to decide how many people would watch or how many people would root for the U.S. It was our purview to create the best team we could for Cheryl.”
Despite the controversy surrounding her Olympic snub, Clark continues to shine in the WNBA. On Sunday, she led the Indiana Fever to an 81-74 victory over Reeve’s Minnesota Lynx, improving the Fever’s season record to 11-14. Clark’s performance on the court remains a testament to her talent and potential, regardless of her Olympic status.
As the debate over Clark’s future with Team USA continues, Reeve’s focus remains firmly on her current role with the Lynx. The intense interaction with the reporter highlights the complexities and pressures faced by those juggling responsibilities at both the professional and national team levels. With the Olympic Games approaching and the WNBA season in full swing, all eyes will be on how these dynamics play out for both Reeve and Clark.
