South Carolina college basketball coach Dawn Staley has given a theory as to why Caitlin Clark was overlooked for Team USA’s women’s basketball roster - and Staley admitted the decision might be different if the players were selected now.
The South Carolina women’s basketball coach is also a member of the selection committee that chose Team USA’s roster for Paris 2024. The Olympic selection received criticism from some fans for the omission of Clark as well as fellow WNBA rookie Angel Reese .
Appearing on NBC , Staley explained why the Indiana Fever sensation missed the cut before suggesting that Clark would have been part of the Olympic squad if the decision was made more recently then she would be under “really high consideration” to make the roster “if we had to do it all over again.”
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“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 and wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now.
“If we had to do it all over again, with the way she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she’s playing head and shoulders above a lot of people. She’s shooting the ball extremely well. She’s 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 shined as a playmaker in the WNBA All-Star Game as she helped inspire Team WNBA to victory against Team USA before the national squad headed to Paris for the Games. Alongside Reese, the rookie class set records on an enthralling night. Reese became the first rookie to record a double-double in a WNBA All-Star Game, while Clark set the rookie record for assists in the All-Star Game with 10.
Despite her much-discussed omission, Clark has publicly accepted her exclusion for the team, acknowledging the strength of the players selected. "I'm excited for the girls that are on the team. I know it's the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way - me being on the team or me not being on the team. I'm going to be rooting them on to win gold,” Clark said last month.
“I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, so it will be fun to watch them. Honestly, no disappointment. It just gives me something to work for; it's a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there. I think it's just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully when four years comes back around, I can be there."
Team USA begins its Olympic campaign on Monday against Japan. It continues in Group C against Belgium on Thursday before concluding the group stage against Germany next Sunday.
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