Team USA made a pretty brutal move against Caitlin Clark by not selecting the rookie sensation for the team’s roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was a pretty shocking decision at the time, but the decision looked all the more brutal after the conclusion of the Olympics, especially considering the way one player selected over her performed throughout the games.
While Caitlin Clark did not make Team USA for the Paris Olympics, veteran guard Diana Taurasi was selected for the team. But Taurasi’s performance at the Olympics didn’t exactly prove that she belonged. In fact, her stats seemed to indicate that Team USA would have been better off with Clark, instead.
As sportswriter Jeff Abramo pointed out on social media, Taurasi averaged less than one point per game, less than one assist per game, and just one rebound per game throughout the entire Olympics.
This is who we left Caitlin Clark off the US Olympic Team for. pic.twitter.com/qnHbx2fAWr
— Ⓙⓔⓕⓕ Ⓐⓑⓡⓐⓜⓞ 🍊 (@JeffAbramo) August 11, 2024
“This is who we left Caitlin Clark off the US Olympic Team for,” Abramo said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Obviously, it’s pretty brutal news that Clark was left off of the roster for someone who played so poorly, and the news led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Diana is there just to break record. Six Olympic gold medal for. Kinda selfish if you ask me. https://t.co/7DLgKIRdFx
— Cavenaghi (@_cavenaghi_) August 12, 2024
DT on this USA Women's team was a joke. It was nothing more than a lifetime achievement award & an effort to get her a 6th gold medal. Completely unearned. https://t.co/czQDsZGWA2
— Terry Taylor (@theterrytaylor) August 11, 2024
They're not good enough to reserve a spot for a mascot/Udonis Haslem like Diana Taurasi anymore. https://t.co/sgXIbH1v0Y
— Ryan 🥥 🌴 (@tvisgreat) August 11, 2024
Taurasi never should have been on this team. https://t.co/O004JFpp9N
— Kenneth Holmes (@CCJKen1) August 11, 2024
So embarrassing but they are lucky that Caitlin Clark is a true pro and won't hold this against the Olympics committee
— SF Bay = Sports Royalty (@SFSportsAndTech) August 11, 2024
It was arrogant to take someone just to get her medal #6, knowing she’d barely play. Roster spots are precious and using one for a retirement tour was an odd flex.
They still achieved their goals, but a slap in the face to deserving players who were left at home.
— Matt, Cooker of Meats (@malarson75) August 11, 2024
At the end of the day, however, Team USA did win the gold medal. So they clearly did not need Clark to accomplish their goals. Still, it’s pretty clear that Clark was talented enough to make the team.
