The USA Women's Basketball Olympic roster has not officially been released, however, when it does officially come out, Caitlin Clark is not expected to see her name on it.
This is the same Caitlin Clark who brought both the men's and women's all-time scoring records in NCAA basketball. The same Caitlin Clark who led her team to two straight NCAA Championship games that the Iowa Hawkeyes could not find a way to win. The same Caitlin Clark that was drafted No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft. The same Caitlin Clark is fourth in assists per game in the WNBA right now and 14 in points per game.
What I am trying to say here is that Caitlin Clark is good and had every right to be on that Olympic roster, and has every right to question why she isn't. However, the Committee has come out and said she is in the one of the lead alternates if for some reason a player on the roster is unable to go.
Yes, Clark is a rookie and is still adjusting to playing in the WNBA. Yes, she has had her struggles since joining the league, but she is still a generational talent and could elevate the play of the women's Olympic team.
So why was she left off? Here are some of the dumbest excuses the Olympic Committee had for leaving her off the roster.
She's not experienced enough
So Clark is going to be punished for not being simply old enough to be on the Olympic roster? By saying Clark is not experienced enough, people are basically saying she hasn't been in the league long enough to be on the Olympic roster.
Well, in order to be in the league longer, Clark would have to be older, which she has no control over. Clark does have a lot of experience playing for Team USA though playing on the USA U19 team and was even named the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup MVP and was an All-Star Five Selection.
Along with all her experience in college, Clark has played a lot of basketball in her life, her life is basketball. Yes, there are more experienced guards on the roster, but it is not like a WNBA rookie has never been named on the Olympic roster before. Diana Taurasi made it in 2004, Candace Parker in 2008, and Breanna Steward in 2016, so this excuse isn't good enough.