Team USA will chase Gold in the Paris Olympics this summer, both in Men’s and Women’s basketball. On the women’s side, the 2024 Olympic roster will not include Rookie Sensation Caitlin Clark, according to multiple reports.

On both sides, USA Basketball wanted to go with a veteran presence. This year’s Women’s roster is expected to include current WNBA stars and former Olympic Champions. A few notable names include Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart.

The decision to leave Caitlin Clark off of the Olympic roster comes as a shock to everyone. Clark blossomed into a star during her time at Iowa and has only continued to grow in the WNBA. She’s a star, she’s talented and she could increase the awareness of Women’s Basketball on a global stage.

The news also comes on the heels of a Washington Mystics vs Indiana Fever game played in front of a sellout crowd. An arena that was filled with over 20,000 people and Clark scored 30 points. She can handle that type of pressure.

As mentioned above, Team USA wanted experience. Clark doesn’t have that at the professional level yet. She’s only 12 games into her WNBA career. The current roster consists of 50+ years of experience. That experience could lead Team USA to Gold. Clark also hasn’t been to attend Olympic workouts. She was invited to one in Cleveland and wasn’t able to make it with her leading Iowa to the NCAA Final Four.

The players selected have a proven track record. Clark isn’t there quite yet. Are the admins of Team USA making a mistake? Yes, despite the Fever’s (3-9) record, she has been on the rise to stardom. Other WNBA rookies have struggled. You have to give credit where it’s due, the attendance and awareness have increased due to the success that Clark has had.

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