Dawn Staley believes Caitlin Clark would merit ‘high consideration’ in USA Basketball roster do-over

If USA Basketball had a do-over, Caitlin Clark just might be on the 2024 Olympics squad taking part in the Paris Games.

South Carolina head women’s basketball coach and USA Basketball selection committee member Dawn Staley commented on Clark’s omission from the Olympics roster with NBC’s Mike Tirico on Sunday.

“As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together best team of players, the best talent. 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 in a couple of months than she was two months ago,” Staley said.

Clark has certainly settled in as a professional. The 6-foot rookie guard for the Indiana Fever is averaging 17.1 points, 8.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 40.5% from the field, 32.7% from 3-point range and 89.1% from the free throw line.

Clark and the Fever return to action after the Olympics break on Aug. 16 versus the Phoenix Mercury at 6:30 p.m. CT on ION.

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