Getty Image
Rookie phenom and recent No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick Caitlin Clark was snubbed from the Team USA roster this summer, stripping her of the chance to represent her country at the Olympic Games.
As it turns out, she might end up suiting up against that Olympic squad during the WNBA All-Star break.
ESPN recently released its predictions of the 12-woman All-Star lineup, with Clark firmly on the roster after picking up Rookie of the Month honors in May.
This year’s format will allow that All-Star group to face off against Team USA on July 20th as it preps for a trip to Paris, something that we’ve seen in past Olympic seasons.
With the 12 Olympians selected, WNBA All-Star voting will tip off Thursday to help determine the roster that will go up against Team USA in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game on July 20 in Phoenix.
All-Star voting — featuring a combination of input from fans (50%), current WNBA players (25%) and media members (25%) — will conclude June 29.
The top 10 vote-getters will automatically be named to the All-Star Game, with those players not already on the U.S. 5-on-5 Olympic roster assigned to Team WNBA.
The 12 WNBA head coaches will then take the names of the next 36 highest vote-getters and fill out the remaining spots on the 12-player All-Star squad.
The “Worldwide Leader in Sports” likes Clark’s chances of making the squad, and given that 50% weighted fan vote, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which she doesn’t make the cut.
Combine that with votes from the media, who’d love nothing more than a potential “revenge game” following the Team USA snub, and Clark seems like a shoo-in.
ESPN provided its reasoning for adding Caitlin Clark to the Team WNBA squad.
The highs and lows of Clark’s first 13 WNBA games have been thoroughly covered and analyzed, but between the heavily weighted fan vote and her overall solid career start, she’ll likely be headed to Phoenix. The rookie, who ranks fourth in the league in assists per game, joins Olympian Jackie Young as the only players this season averaging at least 16 points and 6 assists. Regardless of whether you think Clark should have made the Olympic team, it’s hard to deny that it’s a tantalizing prospect to see her go against Team USA as part of the WNBA All-Stars.
In the network’s projection, Clark would join a 12-player roster that also includes DeWanna Bonner, Allisha Gray, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, Jonquel Jones, Marina Mabrey, Ezi Magbegor, Kayla McBride, Arike Ogunbowale, and Nneka Ogwumike.
While Team USA has won seven straight gold medals, there have been instances in the past when Team WNBA has gotten the better of the Olympic squad – most recently in 2021.
We’ll see if they can do it again this summer, and if Caitlin Clark plays a part!