Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is expected to be left off the Team USA women’s basketball roster for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris. This was confirmed by David Eickholt of 247Sports after USA Today’s Christine Brennan first reported the news shortly after midnight on Saturday. Despite being one of the leading scorers in college basketball and putting up impressive numbers in the WNBA, Clark will not be a part of the Olympic team.
In her first 14 games in the WNBA, Clark has averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. She has already achieved two 30-point games, one of which resulted in a career-high seven 3-pointers during the Fever’s win over the Washington Mystics. Clark holds the title of the fastest rookie in WNBA history to reach 200+ points and 50+ assists.
While the absence of Clark may come as a surprise to some, Team USA is still considered the favorite to win the gold medal in Paris. The roster, according to The Athletic, includes star players such as A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and more. Unfortunately, the Fever’s 3-9 record means they will not have any players represented in the 12-player Olympic roster.
The Las Vegas Aces will have the most representation in the Olympic team with four players, followed by the Phoenix Mercury with three players. Diana Taurasi, who holds the record for the most Olympic titles in US basketball history, will be among the players representing Team USA in pursuit of their continued success in the Summer Games.