MEET THE 5 WOMEN THAT LEFT CAITLIN CLARK OFF THE 2024 OLYMPIC TEAM
1. Dawn Staley: University of South Carolina coach.
Staley’s Gamecocks were defeated by Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, preventing Staley’s team from having a perfect season.
2. Seimone Augustus: LSU assistant coach.
Augustus, the first pick in the 2006 WNBA draft, never had the offers to make the kind of money Clark is making today.
3. Delisha Milton-Jones: Old Dominion coach.
Milton-Jones is a former SEC player who played in the WNBA and now coaches at Old Dominion.
4. Jennifer Rizzotti: Connecticut Sun president.
A former UConn player and longtime college coach, Rizzotti saw Clark and Iowa knock UConn out of the NCAA Tournament this year in the Final Four.
5. Bethany Donaphin: WNBA head of league operations.
Donaphin oversees WNBA operations, making her a key decision-maker in the sport.
Source: Gateway Pundit
CAITLIN CLARK HAS TO STAND FOR SOMETHING… LIKE IT OR NOT, SHE IS THE FACE OF A LEAGUE KNOWN FOR ADVOCACY, SAYS EX-WNBA STAR
Former WNBA player Chiney Ogwumike insisted that Caitlin Clark should take a stance and be more active in advocacy as her stardom continues bringing more eyes to the league.
Ogwumike’s remarks on First Take came in light of Clark expressing her disappointment in her name being weaponized for racism, misogyny, and other discriminatory remarks.
While Ogwumike acknowledged how Clark handled the question, she also insisted that the rookie should say more and use her platform to revert the attention to the court and growth of the WNBA.
‘With all of the growth that Caitlin has brought, it has brought a lot of growing pains,’ Ogwumike said. ‘It is necessary to say something because now you have the opportunity to educate people who are coming with you.’
‘So that hopefully, the focus can be on the game and not on these preconceived notions that being in one the most polarized moments in our country has brought to the forefront.’
Chiney Ogwumike insisted that Caitlin Clark should take a stand as the face of the WNBA
“I think that with all of the growth that Caitlin [Clark] has brought, it has brought a lot of growing pains. … Now you have the opportunity to educate people who are coming with you … so that hopefully the focus can be on the game.”
—@chiney on the WNBA’s growth this year pic.twitter.com/Hn9tASwaoe
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 14, 2024
Ogwumike also emphasized how the WNBA is built strongly on the advocacy of its players – noting the work of former player Maya Moore on and off the court.
Without downplaying the differences, Ogwumike paralleled Clark to NBA superstar LeBron James and how he uses his platform to fight for social justice.
‘She is the face of a league that has built its backbone consistently but – over the last few years – has been known for advocacy.’
‘The conversations are not necessarily focused on basketball, but it is good for the sport. We have the opportunity to set the record straight, and I think Caitlin did just that,’ Ogwumike continued.
The rookie initially took a neutral stance when asked about her name being weaponized
DiJonnai Carrington (R) subtweeted Clark (L) for her response to a question about her name being used in an ongoing ‘culture war’ surrounding the WNBA in recent weeks
I asked #IndianaFever’s Caitlin Clark directly about her name being weaponized for racism/misogyny (as Dijonai Carrington alluded to):
“It’s disappointing. … Everybody in our world deserves the same amount of respect. The women in our league deserve the same amount of respect.” pic.twitter.com/gyAWBqGG8c — James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 13, 2024
‘But it had me thinking, we talk about LeBron James a lot. And I feel like we’re getting to the same point with Caitlin Clark.’
‘He had to stand for something, and he had to represent the league. The difference is, obviously, he’s a black man, and this is a young white woman. But still, she’s not just representing herself as an individual and as a basketball player.’
Furthermore, Ogwumike noted how quickly Clark became the face of the WNBA. While her first season has not been the most pristine, Clark’s success in college led to a massive following that followed her into the pros.
Clark took a stronger stance when pressed directly about the issue on Thursday night
Clark is averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and six assists as the Fever are 4-10 a quarter into their campaign.
‘If you asked me two years ago, or even months ago, who was the face of the WNBA? I would tell you it’s A’ja Wilson,’ she said. ‘She’s currently a back-to-back champion. She’s playing like an MVP. She is the most dominant player in the WNBA right now.’
‘But we are experiencing a shift. Where, for better or worse, [Wilson] is not necessarily the face of the league. The face of the league is now Caitlin Clark.’
WHY CAITLIN CLARK WAS REALLY SNUBBED FOR TEAM USA’S OLYMPIC SQUAD AS SELECTION CHIEF SPEAKS OUT ON CONTROVERSIAL DECISION
USA Basketball revealed that experience was the key factor in Caitlin Clark not being on the 2024 Paris Olympics roster.
After her popularity in the NCAA translated into a stampede of eyes in the WNBA upon Clark’s entry, many found it shameful that she got snubbed for the upcoming games in France.
Speaking to the Associated Press, selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti acknowledged the noise and pressure to select Clark for the stars and stripes.
‘Here’s the basketball criteria that we were given as a committee and how do we evaluate our players based on that?’ Rizzotti said.
‘And when you base your decision on criteria, there were other players that were harder to cut because they checked a lot more boxes. Then sometimes it comes down to position, style of play for [coach Cheryl Reeve], and then sometimes a vote.’
The USA selection committee revealed why they left Caitlin Clark out of the Olympic team
Jen Rizzotti shared that experience was a key factor that the No 1 pick lacked over others
Returning players include reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, and Brittney Griner.
Meanwhile, Diana Taurasi is gearing up for a record sixth Olympic appearance for the US. Taurasi made her Olympic debut during her rookie year (2004) at the Athens games and will return at 42 to help the nation try for an eighth straight gold medal finish.
Aside from the returners, the committee added Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who helped the US win gold in the inaugural 3×3 competition in Tokyo, to the 5-on-5 team. Additionally, first-time Olympians Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kahleah Copper played for the American team that won the 2022 World Cup in Australia.
‘It’s a great mix of talent across the board in terms of individual skill sets,’ USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. ‘We have veterans, newcomers, and those in the middle. Good perspective and continuity is such an important thing and is why we’ve been successful in the Olympics.’
The next chapter in The Greatest Dynasty Ever.
The 2024 USA Women’s National Team is here.
🇺🇸 #USABWNT x #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/BdDki5De5O — USA Basketball (@usabasketball) June 11, 2024
Due to her popularity and the eyes she brought to the WNBA, many resented Clark’s snub
All 12 of the players selected to compete in Paris have senior national team experience
All 12 players have senior national team experience – a box that Clark has yet to check. However, Tooley acknowledged that Clark could play an important part in the program in the future.
‘She’s certainly going to continue to get better and better,’ Tooley said. ‘Really hope that she’s a big part of our future going forward.’
The selection committee’s criteria include playing ability, position, and adaptability to international play. While many argued that Clark’s notoriety would be beneficial, marketing and popularity have nothing to do with the selection process.
‘It would be irresponsible for us to talk about her in a way other than how she would impact the play of the team,’ Rizzotti said.
WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson will spearhead the team in Paris this summer
Players including Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu will make their Olympic full-court debuts
Team USA are shooting for their eighth straight gold medal finish at the Olympic games
‘Because it wasn’t the purview of our committee to decide how many people would watch or how many people would root for the US. It was our purview to create the best team we could for Cheryl.’
With all the chatter surrounding what many labeled a ‘controversial’ decision, the No. 1 pick said she will use getting left out as an incentive to improve and make the 2028 Olympic team.
‘I think it just gives you something to work for,’ Clark told reporters after practice Sunday. ‘It’s a dream. Hopefully, one day, I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully, when four years comes back around, I can be there.’
