It appears Cailin Clark may have deserved a spot on the U.S. Olympic basketball team after all.
Clark, the heavy favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year and the biggest star in women’s basketball, was controversially left off the roster in June with the selection committee citing her lack of professional experience.
But on the day of the U.S.’s first game in Paris, one of the people who made the decision seemed to admit it may have been a mistake.
South Carolina coach and committee member Dawn Staley made the comments to NBC’s Mike Tirico, notably noting that Clark “wasn’t playing like she’s playing now” at the time the roster was selected.
“As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players, the best talent,” Staley said. “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now.”
“If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people. Shooting the ball extremely well, I mean she is an elite passer, she’s just got a great basketball IQ, and she’s a little more seasoned in the pro game than she was two months ago.”
Clark, the No. 1 overall pick after a record-setting tenure at Iowa, is seen by many as the main reason for increased interest in women’s basketball and the WNBA.
While in college, her games set viewing records and some WNBA teams have moved games against Clark’s Indiana Fever to accommodate more fans.
Clark, who vowed to use the snub as motivation, has taken her game to the next level as she settles into the WNBA.
She has averaged 17.9 points and 10.4 assists in 13 games, recently setting a record for most assists in a single game with 19.
The U.S. team is seeking an eighth straight gold medal. The Americans will play Japan on Monday, Belgium on Aug. 1 and Germany on Aug. 4 as part of pool play.
Clark and the Indiana Fever will be back in action against U.S. basketball legend Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 16.
