Fans Outraged By Dawn Staley's Painful Admission About Caitlin Clark, Team USA

The Team USA women's basketball team is set to take the floor for the first time at the Paris Olympics on Monday, but they are doing so without arguably the biggest star in the league.

Rookie guard Caitlin Clark, in what was arguably one of the more controversial sports decisions in recent memory, was left off of the Olympic team. Now, the decision wasn't as simple as it sounds. Clark, who was taken with the No. 1 pick in April's WNBA draft quickly emerged as the most popular player in the WNBA, and while she had made some noise in the early months of her career she had some aspects that worked against her.

“Here’s the basketball criteria that we were given as a committee and how do we evaluate our players based on that,” USA Basketball selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti told the AP in June. “And when you base your decision on criteria, there were other players that were harder to cut because they checked a lot more boxes. Then sometimes it comes down to position, style of play for (coach Cheryl Reeve) and then sometimes a vote.”

That was later revealed to not be the only reason why, as Clark's popularity was reportedly a prospective issue according to Christine Brennan of USA TODAY.

"Two other sources, both long-time U.S. basketball veterans with decades of experience in the women’s game, told USA TODAY Sports Friday that concern over how Clark’s millions of fans would react to what would likely be limited playing time on a stacked roster was a factor in the decision making," Brennan wrote in early June.

Team USA got a taste of that popularity when Clark headlined the WNBA All-Stars in an exhibition match before the Olympic squad headed to Paris. The All-Stars won, and while Clark struggled to find her shot, she dished out 10 assists. While missing out on the Olympics had to be a bit of a letdown, Clark does get a well-deserved month or so off as the WNBA has one of the quickest drafts to regular-season turnarounds in sports.

However, while she may have moved on from being left off the team, selection committee member and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley revealed it may have been a mistake.

While making an appearance with NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico on Sunday during the Olympics, Staley hinted that things would have been different if they had to make the decision again.

"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.”

An admission that has struck a chord with fans, who are now talking about the fact Clark should be on the team even more.

"Which is a surprise to exactly nobody who has been following her game," wrote one fan, while another added "What I really don’t understand about the selection is that you could take away Clark’s generational passing skill and great rebounding ability and she still should’ve been picked on her shooting alone. Olympic teams not even pretending to pick based on fit always grinds my gears."

There were even fans who wish Staley didn't fire the argument back up due to all of the discourse it led to the first time, and will lead to this time around.

Team USA will open up Olympic play against Japan on Monday, and fans will certainly be discussing whether or not Clark should have been included regardless of the outcome.

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