Caitlin Clark may still have a shot at the Olympics after all, as one of Team USA’s key players continues to battle an injury.
Clark, the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, was controversially left off Cheryl Reeve’s roster for this summer’s Games in Paris, despite her record-breaking success in college with Iowa and strong start in the big leagues with Indiana.
The 22-year-old was instead named as a reserve, meaning she would be among the first in line if a Team USA player were to withdraw from the roster.
And with Diana Taurasi currently struggling with a leg injury, it could well be that Clark will still be called up for the Olympic selection in the final phase.
Taurasi, a six-time Olympian and defender for Phoenix Mercury who was one of Reeves’ key players heading into this summer’s Games, has missed her team’s last four WNBA games because of the problem.
Caitlin Clark may still have a chance to go to the Olympics this summer
Diana Taurasi faces a race against time to get fit while still battling a leg injury
She is also unavailable for the Mercury’s match against Clark and Fever on Friday, meaning her chances of reaching Paris are in doubt.
Given that she holds the same position, Clark would be the most obvious replacement for Taurasi should she lose her race against time to get fit.
Reeve sparked outrage when she cut the Fever sensation from her Olympic roster this summer. Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, called the U.S. officials behind the decision “stupid women.”
“Hey dummies,” Portnoy raged in a video on social media. “For the first time in the history of basketball, you have the player who is supposedly the most popular player in the world.
“You can make an argument that Caitlin Clark is the most popular, most chair-raising, singles basketball player in the world. You can make an argument. And you leave her off the Olympic team?”
Clark brought unprecedented attention to women’s basketball during her time at Iowa and is already helping to push the sport into the WNBA, with several rival teams moving their games against Indiana to larger stadiums to accommodate increased demand.
After previously drawing criticism for saying she wasn’t ready for the big leagues, Taurasi was full of praise for Clark following Phoenix’s loss to Indiana last month.
Taurasi recently praised Clark for bringing unprecedented attention to women’s basketball
“It’s amazing what Caitlin has been able to do in her short career so far,” the 42-year-old said. “It’s truly remarkable.
What she’s done for the game is pretty incredible and [having] that momentum you get when you come out of university, being watched for four years.’
When fit, Taurasi has continued to show why she’s one of the most talented players in the WNBA this season, averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Clark is averaging 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game. Her stellar start was rewarded with a spot in the WNBA All-Star Game.
