Regardless of her rising stardom and spectacular accomplishments, USA Basketball has determined to not embrace Caitlin Clark on its 12-player roster for the ladies’s competitors in Paris, reported ESPN Saturday, citing varied sources.
The U.S. has gained gold in girls’s basketball at each Olympics since 1996, and they’re closely favored to win once more in Paris.
Why Was Clark Not Chosen?
The Athletic pointed to the choice for a “veteran staff,” including that the U.S. girls’s basketball staff is the “strongest assortment of basketball expertise on this planet. Lots of them have performed collectively within the WNBA or in Olympic cycles.”
Having simply completed her faculty season, Clark has by no means participated at a senior nationwide staff camp. Although she was one in all 14 gamers to earn an invite to USA Basketball’s pre-Olympics coaching camp in Cleveland Ohio this previous April, she was unable to attend as a result of she was taking part in with Iowa within the Last 4. Attending the coaching camp shouldn’t be required for choice, however it sometimes performs a job within the choice committee’s roster selections.
The Athletic implied that Clark’s lack of expertise creates questions on how she’d slot in on the courtroom on the Olympics.
The U.S. will take five-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi for a sixth Olympics run. Taurasi, who is popping 42, will likely be joined by Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner.
Griner’s First Time Overseas After Russian Jail Ordeal
This will likely be Griner’s first time taking part in internationally since she was detained for hashish possession in Russia the place she performed for a number of years in the course of the low season. Griner spent 10 months in jail and was launched on Dec. 8, 2022, in alternate for Russian arms seller and Putin ally Viktor Bout. As soon as lastly house, Griner stated she would solely play abroad with USA Basketball.
Becoming a member of Griner and Taurasi will likely be Olympic veterans Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Grey. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Younger, who helped the U.S. win the inaugural 3×3 gold medal on the Tokyo Video games in 2021 will even be on the staff.
The staff will play Japan in its Olympics opener on July 29, with the gold medal sport scheduled for Aug. 11.
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