Caitlin Clark was not selected as part of the United States women’s basketball roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. While the team ultimately did not need her help to win the gold medal, the decision to leave her off of the roster ultimately did spark controversy, particularly due to who was included on the roster instead.
While Caitlin Clark did not get an invite to the Team USA roster, veteran guard Diana Taurasi did make the team. But it’s safe to say that Taurasi did not necessarily perform well at the Olympics this year.
As sportswriter Jeff Abramo pointed out on social media, Clark was left off of the roster in favor of Diana Taurasi, and Taurasi’s performance at the Olympics did not seem to justify that selection as she 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.
Needless to say, this sparked a lot of outrage among other fans.
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
Taurasi never should have been on this team. https://t.co/O004JFpp9N
— Kenneth Holmes (@CCJKen1) August 11, 2024
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
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
Yeebus https://t.co/CDY3znlwuM
— Sarah Horrocks🐾 (@mercurialblonde) August 11, 2024
It seems that most people think Clark deserved the honor over Taurasi.
