Getty Image / G Fiume
Caitlin Clark’s absence from the USA Women’s Basketball Olympic Team for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France has sparked a huge amount of controversy. The sport’s most popular player could have helped bolster television ratings in Paris and may have helped bring viewers back to the WNBA.
Now, First Take hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe have blasted the decision to keep the Indiana Fever rookie off of Team USA.
There’s no doubt that Caitlin Clark moves the needle, unlike any player in the sport’s history. After smashing viewership records at the University of Iowa, that trend has continued in the WNBA, despite her team’s painfully slow start. The Fever are just 3-9 to start the season.
Clark has had her struggles as well, with low efficiency and high turnovers. But, she’s still putting up numbers, and after a 30-point game on Friday against the Washington Mystics is averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game.
But, if you’re going strictly on current talent level, there’s an argument to be made that she’s not one of the best twelve players currently in the national team pool. It’s a loaded group, to say the least.
But, many think that she should be on the team due to her popularity alone, and it seems like Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith agree. Take a look.
Stephen A. Smith says that Clark does not deserve to make the team based on basketball, but should be on due to her popularity.
Stephen A. Smith on Caitlin Clark being left off Team USA: "This is about what I will personally label 'The Idiocy of Team USA Women's Basketball.' How dare you make this decision. It's stupid.
"Caitlin Clark does not deserve a spot ahead of any of the players on this roster –… pic.twitter.com/BqM0AWdMZ6
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2024
Meanwhile, Shannon Sharpe is questioning the decision for the same reason.
Shannon Sharpe on Caitlin Clark being left off of Team USA: "Are we really trying to grow the game? Because this is the most popular women's basketball player in the world and it ain't close… So are we really trying to grow the game? Is that what we're really trying to do? Or… pic.twitter.com/XwSdruLuG9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2024
Ultimately, it might be good for Caitlin Clark to miss out on the team. She’s basically been in-season since October of 2023, and she clearly needs a rest. Plus, she’s already claimed that she’s using the snub to fuel her.
We will find out just how much it’s fueling her against the 9-1 Connecticut Sun on Monday night.