Olympics chief hits out at Caitlin Clark’s Team USA snub after WNBA star is left off roster for Paris Games
USA Basketball’s decision to waive Caitlin Clark for this summer’s Olympics is a “missed opportunity,” according to the president of the Los Angeles 2028 organizing committee.
Clark has taken the sport to new heights in recent months, but the ‘generational talent’ was left out of the 12-woman US squad for Paris.
The Fever superstar is reportedly at the top of the list of alternative candidates, but her omission sparked anger among fans, including Barstool chief Dave Portnoy, who accused the selectors of being ‘stupid’, ‘brain dead’ and ‘idiot’.
And now Casey Wasserman has expressed his disappointment over her absence from this summer’s Games.
“I think it’s a missed opportunity because she’s clearly a generational talent at a time when the world was ready for it,” Wasserman said. USA today. “I just think it would have been an opportunity to take the women’s team to the next level.”
WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark was left out of the U.S. team for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris
Casey Wasserman, chair of the LA 2028 organizing committee, regretted the call
Wasserman wants Clark included for the Games on home soil in 2028, stressing: “I certainly hope she will be at the 2028 Olympics… she is a tremendous star and sees the future of American basketball looks rosy.’
He added: ‘There have been incredible talents in the world, shame on us all, the world wasn’t able to embrace that.
“Take Diana (Taurasi) or Breanna Stewart, or some of our (Wasserman) clients coming into the team. They are dominant at a level never seen before, but the world wasn’t ready to fill a building like Caitlin Clark did for whatever: the Final Four.”
The former Iowa star became a superstar while playing for the Hawkeyes. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft and has been at the center of a firestorm since joining the WNBA.
But the 12-woman roster for the Games – selected by head coach Cheryl Reeve – instead includes Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Alyssa Thomas , A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
Jen Rizzotti explained that experience was a key factor in the decision not to select Clark
“I understand both sides of the issue, but purely as an opportunity to showcase a generational talent to the world…” Wasserman continued. “If it were simple, we wouldn’t be debating it.”
Selection committee chairwoman Jen Rizzotti previously revealed the reasons behind the decision, citing Clark’s latest experience.
“These are the basketball criteria that we have been given as a committee and how do we evaluate our players based on that?” said Rizzotti.
‘And if you base your decision on criteria, there were other players who were harder to remove because they ticked a lot more boxes. Then sometimes it comes down to position, playing style for (Reeve), and then sometimes a mood.’