The USA women’s basketball team may have secured gold at the Paris Olympics, but the debate surrounding Caitlin Clark’s exclusion from the roster is far from settled.
Clark, the top pick in this year’s WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, has been a driving force behind the league’s surge in popularity during her rookie season. Her remarkable skills and fierce rivalry with Angel Reese, the No. 7 pick by the Chicago Sky, have captivated fans and elevated the WNBA’s profile.
As the race for WNBA Rookie of the Year intensifies, with Clark and Reese both making strong cases, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes their talents should have been showcased in France during the Olympics instead of taking a month off.
“When you look at Team USA basketball, I’m still of the mindset that Caitlin Clark should have been on the team,” Smith said. “And to a lesser degree, Angel Reese as well. But definitely Caitlin Clark.”
Clark was left off the Olympic roster after missing USA practices due to her commitments in the NCAA tournament with Iowa. Despite her absence, the USA team managed to clinch a narrow 67-66 victory against host nation France, securing the gold medal.
Smith acknowledged the team’s achievement but maintained that Clark’s inclusion would have added another dimension to the squad.
“Congrats to them—it was far more thrilling than it needed to be. They got it done. But I still believe Caitlin Clark should have been on this team,” Smith continued. “The ladies represented us well, as they always do. But when it comes to marketing the sport, I think Team USA missed an opportunity to elevate the profile of women’s excellence in basketball.”
Clark is set to return to WNBA action on Friday night when the Indiana Fever take on the Phoenix Mercury, following Angel Reese’s matchup against the same team on Thursday. During the WNBA’s Olympic hiatus, both players took some time off, with Clark even making a quick trip to New York to watch the Yankees play and meet Aaron Judge.
Looking ahead, both Clark and Reese are widely expected to be central figures for Team USA at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
