Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Caitlin Clark is not likely to be a member of the 12-player Team USA women’s basketball squad for the Summer Olympics, The Athletic reports, citing several sources.
The popular Indiana Fever rookie, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, is being bypassed in favor of veterans.
Reports indicate the roster will feature players A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper.
The U.S. women should be a favorite in Paris.
Clark still has an outside chance of being on the squad as an injury replacement. She missed Team USA’s tryouts in the spring because of her Iowa team’s deep run in the NCAA tournament.
It’s been a rough introducion to the WNBA for Clark, who has been “hammered” in her own words, including one non-basketball foul by a Chicago Fever player. Still, she has drawn attention to the league that has struggled, with Clark’s appearances generating several new attendance records.
The reports of Clark’s likely exclusion drew scorn from sports pundits.
“Christian Laettner made the Dream Team. Caitlin Clark can’t make the women’s Olympic basketball team?” said Colin Cowherd, the Fox Sports host. “What mostly pays for the Olympics — oh wait — revenue generated from broadcasting partners. As in TV. As in Caitlin is TV GOLD. Opportunity wasted.”