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Since rising to stardom in the Iowa women’s college basketball program, Caitlin Clark has been showered with awards and accolades for her exceptional performances on the court. She dominated in scoring and assists in the NCAA three times, set the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record, and was a three-time first-team All-American. Her achievements made her the undisputed top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever and shortly after, a rookie WNBA All-Star.
More often than not, Clark was the go-to choice for any award or honor until the Paris Olympics. Controversially, she was excluded from the roster of the United States women’s basketball national team for the Paris Olympic Games.
Despite her desire to be part of the team, Clark accepted the decision. She acknowledged that the team selection was extremely competitive and recognized that she had not performed at her best early in the 2024 WNBA season.
While Clark believed she was worthy of a spot on the team, she appreciated not being chosen solely for her marketability or fame. Clark’s impact on women’s basketball ratings and viewership was significant, but she felt that should not be the sole reason for her Olympic team selection.
“I don’t want to be there because I’m somebody that can bring attention,” Clark expressed to Sean Gregory of Time. “I love that for the game of women’s basketball. But at the same time, I want to be there because they think I’m good enough. I don’t want to be some little person that is kind of dragged around for people to cheer about and only watch because I’m sitting on the bench. That whole narrative kind of upset me. Because that is not fair. It’s disrespectful to the people that were on the team, that had earned it and were really good. And it’s also disrespectful to myself.”
It’s unusual for WNBA rookies to make the Olympic team, but there was a belief that Clark could be the exception, given her track record. In the end, Team USA selected a different roster, which included Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, and other talented players, leading them to their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Taking the snub as motivation, Clark returned from the Olympic break even stronger than before.
Prior to the All-Star break, Clark averaged 17.1 points per game. Following the break and Olympic Games, her average surged to 23.1 points per game as she helped the Fever secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2016, ending a long postseason drought.
If Clark’s career trajectory stays on course, she is unlikely to be left off future Olympic rosters. Instead, she is more likely to be competing for gold at the Los Angeles 2028 and/or Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
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