The absence of Caitlin Clark from the USA women’s basketball roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics is a surprising turn for many fans and analysts. Clark, who boasts an impressive college career as the leading scorer in NCAA history with 3,951 points, has been a standout player on multiple fronts.
Despite her record-breaking stats, which include an average of 28.4 points per game and 538 made 3-pointers, both NCAA Division 1 records, Clark did not secure a spot on Team USA’s roster. Among those who made it are Raven Johnson from South Carolina, Lauren Betts from UCLA, and Rickea Jackson from Tennessee, as well as several others who have already built resumes at the national level.
Noteworthy is that five players on the current Olympic roster share seven gold medals among them in various USA Basketball competitions. This depth of experience likely played a role in shaping the final team selection process.
Clark’s exceptional journey in college basketball saw her shattering numerous records. The Iowa Hawkeyes’ star wore the number 22 and delivered performances that set new standards across both men’s and women’s NCAA history. Her stellar resume includes not only scoring feats but also assisting prowess, with 1,144 assists ranking second in women’s college basketball history.
Yet despite these accolades, uncertainty lingered over Clark’s potential inclusion as she missed the USA Basketball camp due to Iowa advancing to the Final Four. Kevin Durant summed up the team’s ambition by stating, I want to really make a statement on how dominant our players are. Like 40, 50-point wins. I want to do that.
Kevin Durant’s Olympic success and his ambition for ruthless excellence underscore the high expectations placed on Team USA as they head into the Paris games.
While being excluded from the current roster may be disappointing for her supporters, there is still hope for aspiring talents like Caitlin Clark. As NBC Sports has noted, the final Olympic roster can include players who did not attend camp when the list is finalized at the beginning of July.
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