Team USA has defended its decision to leave WNBA debutant Caitlin Clark off the Olympic team, following public outcry.
Everyone from basketball players to Stephen A. Smith was clamoring for Clark to be accepted into the team.
One of their main arguments is that Clark brings more viewers to the women’s game.
The chairman of the committee of the American women’s team, Jen Rizzotti, explained the reason for Clark’s omission from the list of 12 players.
“We don’t live in isolation,” he said Athletic. “We are not in court where we are locked up alone in a hotel without access. We all see and hear and receive texts and calls about this decision. And that was to be expected.
“Certainly the success that Caitlin had in college in addition to the way she played at the beginning of the (WNBA) season was considered when we talked about this list, but I think that out of respect for the program, we tried. to ensure that we uphold our integrity when it comes to program selection. The marketing, the popularity, the TV ratings, the jersey sales were not something we had to measure.”
Rizzotti also told The Associated Press that the experience was there when the team was chosen.
“And if you base your decision on criteria, there were some players that were difficult to cut because they checked a lot of boxes,” Rizzotti said. “Sometimes it’s been down to the place, Cheryl’s style of play [Reeve] and sometimes a vote.”
The list includes nine players who have been to the Olympics before (including the 3 × 3 competition), with only three players named – Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper and Sabrina Ionescu.
Team USA’s women’s basketball team has won gold in every Olympics since 1988, barring the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where they came away with Bronze.
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