Caitlin Clark, a guard for the Indiana Fever, has been named the top US woman rookie in the WNBA. Despite being invited to the national team’s training camp, she will not be going to the Olympic games in Paris, according to multiple reports. It is unclear why she was not chosen to be part of the Olympic team this year.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Clark, who recently signed an eight-year Nike deal worth $28 million, was left off of the 12-player team roster for the Paris Olympics in July. The selection committee seemed to favor players with more professional experience. Clark has expressed in the past that playing for the US Olympic 5×5 team was her goal and dream.
It is still uncertain why the rookie Indiana Fever guard was not chosen for the Olympic team. Some reports suggest that concern about how Clark’s fans would react to her receiving limited playing time on the team may have influenced the decision. The US Women’s Basketball Team has selected players with Olympic experience like Diana Taurasi, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and Sabrina Ionescu to represent the country at the Olympics this year.
Representatives for Clark and the US Women’s Basketball Team have not commented on the situation. Despite not making it to the Olympic team, Caitlin Clark remains a rising star in the WNBA and a player to watch in the future.