After much criticism, Team USA defended their choice to exclude Caitlin Clark, the top pick in the WNBA this year, from the Olympic squad.
From Stephen A. Smith to basketball enthusiasts, everyone was furious that Clark had been left off the squad.
Their primary point of contention is that Clark attracts a significant amount of attention to the women’s game.
Jen Rizzotti, the chair of the US women’s national team committee, gave an explanation for Clark’s exclusion from the 12-player squad.
“We are not isolated individuals,” she stated to The Athletic. “We’re not in a hotel, isolated from the outside world, serving as jurors. Regarding this judgment, we are all seeing, hearing, and receiving SMS and calls. And that was anticipated.
“We talked about this roster and, of course, Caitlin’s success in college and her play in the early going of the (WNBA) season was taken into consideration, but we also tried to make sure that, out of respect for the process, we maintained our integrity in selecting the roster.” We weren’t meant to be measuring marketability, popularity, TV viewership, or jersey sales.
Additionally, Rizzotti told the Associated Press that experience was taken into consideration while choosing the team.
“There were other players that were harder to cut because they checked a lot more boxes when you base your decision on criteria,” Rizzotti remarked. “Then, occasionally, it comes down to Cheryl [Reeve’s] position and style of play, and occasionally, a vote.”
Nine players on the squad have previously competed in the Olympics, including in the 3×3 division. Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, and Sabrina Ionescu are the only three debutants.
Other than the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, where they took home a bronze medal, the United States women’s basketball team has won gold in every Olympics since 1988.
