Why Isn’t Caitlin Clark on Team USA for Paris Olympics?

Why Isn’t Caitlin Clark on Team USA for Paris Olympics?

Indiana Fever rookie point guard Caitlin Clark, fresh off a dominant four-season collegiate run with the Hawkeyes, was reportedly not included on this year’s US Olympic squad ahead of the 2024 Paris games, in something of a shocking call. Now, we at least have a better sense as to why.

Christine Brennan of USA Today reports that Clark was omitted from this year’s 12-woman Olympic roster in large part because the program was concerned she would not necessarily carve out major rotation minutes among a loaded backcourt comprising New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu, Las Vegas Aces guards Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, Seattle Storm combo guard Jewell Lloyd, and Phoenix Mercury guards Diana Taurasi and Kahleah Copper.

Clark’s 16.8 points per game, on a slash line of .373/.327/.893, paces all rookies in scoring. She is also the No. 13 top scorer in the WNBA overall. Her 6.3 assists also represent the best such stat among rookies and the fourth-best such stat among all players. She is the WNBA’s most frequent three-point gunner, with 104 attempts, while her 34 converted triples are the second-most in the league. Her 32.7 percent three-point rate ranks No. 21 overall in the league..

There also is a precedent for even college players to suit up at the Olympic level, with current Olympian Breanna Stewart having done so herself, so Clark missing the mark can’t just be chalked up to her being a rookie.

She’s already tied the rookie record for most treys made in a single game, with seven — in just her 12th game of a 40-game season. Clark seems on track to earn an All-Star berth as a rookie, like her Fever teammate Aliyah Boston before her. She’s already one of the best players in the league, though still somewhat raw, and she occasionally does struggle through contact a bit.