Caitlin Clark fans have found themselves in the spotlight—and not in a positive way—following their behavior during the Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Over the past two weeks, the fervent supporters of the rising basketball star have been vocal on social media, and their comments have stirred up some controversy.
On Sunday, Team USA’s women’s basketball team secured a narrow 67-66 victory over France in the gold medal game, continuing their incredible streak of dominance at the Olympics. This win marked the American women’s eighth consecutive gold medal, and it extended their remarkable Olympic winning streak to 61 games.
However, despite the impressive victory, some fans couldn’t resist questioning the roster decisions, particularly the absence of Caitlin Clark, one of college basketball’s brightest young stars.
As Team USA struggled with turnovers and shooting woes during the tightly contested game, Clark’s supporters took to social media to voice their opinions, arguing that her presence could have made a difference.
“If the US loses this game, Caitlin Clark fans will be insufferable,” one fan tweeted. “I think they will win, and I really don’t think CC helps this team much, but that wouldn’t stop the crazy takes from happening.”
RELATED: Caitlin Clark Sparks Internet Debate with Her Controversial Opinion on Hot Dogs
The debate over Clark’s omission from the roster became a hot topic, with opinions ranging from frustration to outright disbelief. “I’m going to make it about Cheryl Reeve because she has been garbage this entire tournament,” another fan commented, criticizing the head coach’s performance and decision-making.
Others tried to put the situation into perspective, noting that Clark’s time would come. “I still don’t understand why CC not being chosen is such a big issue. The team was named based on who was on the US team this past year. It’s her first season, and she’ll definitely be in LA28 along with Angel Reese,” one fan reasoned. “If anyone should’ve been on the team now, it’s Arike Ogunbowale.”
Some fans pointed out the evolving nature of international basketball and the need for the U.S. to integrate younger players who will be key contributors in future Olympics. “Like women’s soccer and men’s basketball, women’s basketball started with an enormous advantage over most of the world for many years…but the gap eventually closes. This year’s roster should’ve included more players who will be part of the ’28 & ’32 teams, especially Clark,” a fan argued.
Despite the chatter, Caitlin Clark herself has remained relatively quiet on the topic of Team USA’s Olympic victory. However, she did praise the squad after the WNBA All-Star Game last month, showing her support for the players who were chosen.
“They’re really good. They have plenty of talent on that team,” Clark said at the time. “Four years prior I’m pretty sure Team WNBA beat Team USA, [and] they were perfectly fine in the Olympics. If anything, it shows how good this league is. It shows how much talent is in this league and how you have to show up and prepare every single night. There’s a lot of players that aren’t even here tonight that could be here too. It just shows the amount of talent we have.”
As the 2024 WNBA regular season prepares to resume later this week, the focus will likely shift back to the court, where Clark and other stars will continue to showcase their talents. But the recent controversy serves as a reminder of the intense scrutiny and passion that surround Olympic rosters, and how the decisions made by coaches can spark heated debates among fans.
