Despite her record-setting rookie season in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark didn’t make the cut for Team USA’s roster at the Paris Olympics. However, that seems set to change for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
In an early projection of the U.S. women’s basketball roster for the next Summer Games, CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney predicted that Clark would step into the spot currently held by WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, who is expected to retire before the next Olympics.
Maloney acknowledged the controversy surrounding Clark’s omission from this year’s team but suggested there will be little debate about her inclusion in four years. He confidently asserted that Clark is essentially guaranteed to replace the 42-year-old Taurasi on the 2028 roster.
“Clark nearly became the fifth WNBA rookie to make a Team USA Olympic roster this summer, but was ultimately a controversial cut,” Maloney wrote. “There will be no such dramatics ahead of the 2028 games; Clark, arguably already the best playmaker in the world, will be one of the first names on the team sheet. For the sake of this exercise, we can consider her a direct replacement for Taurasi.”
Clark’s rookie season has been nothing short of spectacular, with averages of 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists through her first 26 games. She also earned a spot on the WNBA All-Star team, which notably defeated Team USA in the exhibition game. Her performance already places her among the elite, making her a strong candidate for the next Olympic roster.
