Caitlin Clark talks WNBA physicality, if Chennedy Carter apologized
Caitlin Clark says she hasn’t heard from Chennedy Carter since the flagrant foul last week, and she doesn’t expect to.
Despite participating with Team USA for its final training for the 2024 Paris Olympics back in March, Caitlin Clark reportedly will not be making the trip overseas with the final roster.
According to “The Athletic’s” Shams Charania, Clark is expected to be left off the 12-player final roster. It was confirmation of an earlier report from The USA TODAY Network’s Christine Brennan. The Fever star has been a lightning rod since being picked No. 1 in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and earned Rookie of the Month honors for May with 17.6 points per game, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds.
The roster is clearly geared toward veterans from top to bottom, with Aces stars A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum serving as headliners and the likes of Diana Taurasi and Brittany Griner also getting spots. Three first-time Olympians will be on the team: The Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, the Mercury’s Kahleah Copper and the Sun’s Alyssa Thomas.
Clark, 22, is coming off a monster night against the Washington Mystics in which the venue was changed to the Wizards’ Capital One Arena. The largest WNBA crowd in 17 years — 20,333 — watched Clark put up 30 points with eight rebounds and six assists. She hit seven threes on the night.
REQUIRED READING: 20,000 fans packed DC arena to root on Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever? Sure sounded like it.
Team USA women’s basketball roster for 2024 Paris Olympics
Here’s a look at the 2024 women’s roster for the Olympics, which doesn’t feature any of this year’s notable rookies. The Sparks’ Cameron Brink and the Sky’s Angel Reese were left off Team USA. Kamilla Cardoso will be playing for her home country Brazil.
- A’ja Wilson — Las Vegas Aces
- Kelsey Plum — Las Vegas Aces
- Jackie Young — Las Vegas Aces
- Chelsea Gray — Las Vegas Aces
- Sabrina Ionescu — New York Liberty
- Breanna Stewart — New York Liberty
- Napheesa Collier — Minnesota Lynx
- Diana Taurasi — Phoenix Mercury
- Brittney Griner — Phoenix Mercury
- Kahleah Copper — Phoenix Mercury
- Jewell Loyd — Seattle Storm
- Alyssa Thomas — Connecticut Sun
The Aces representation is hardly surprising — they are the two-time defending champions, after all. The youngest players on the roster are Jackie Young and Ionescu at 26 years old. Ionescu is a few months younger than Young.
USA women’s basketball Olympic gold medals
USA women’s basketball has historically been wildly successful.
The team has participated in 11 Olympic Games and medaled in all of them. It has nine gold medals (1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) and a silver (1976) and bronze (1992) each. It has won gold in the last seven Summer Games.
Who is coaching Team USA for women’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve is taking the helm for the United States.
Reeve is taking the mantle from 2020 coach Dawn Staley, who just led South Carolina to national championship over Clark’s Hawkeyes in March. Reeve was an assistant coach for the past two Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Reactions to Caitlin Clark not being on 2024 Olympic team
The WNBA world was somewhat stunned to learn of Clark being left off the roster, however, it wasn’t an entirely shocking decision based on the depth of the league and team’s historical preference for experience. Taurasi, for her part, is going for her sixth gold medal.