Should Clark be on the Olympic team?

[Dogdude]

So when does this "grow the game" bubble burst? Last night's game with the Sun was an example of too much media on one player. ESPN had the score, the Sun up 20 with Clark basically doing nothing, yet the only video highlights on the site were the two threes she made. Nothing else until after the game. Once the casual Clark fan gets bored and moves to another shiny thing, then the WNBA is in trouble. They do have to start promoting...heavily...all the current and past stars and their achievements. Plus, everyone forgets Pearl Monroe is still the leading scorer in college basketball history, she just predated the NCAA. Regardless, as everyone starts to realize that Clark's stats are pretty normal for the upper level players, and not as amazing as expected (there are lots of pretty amazing players in the W) then where does all the interest come from? Being left off the team is as it should be, she's not ready quite yet. I'm sure she will be, but not yet. Frankly, for her own interests, it's probably best that she isn't on the team...how would that International audience react if she throws a few turnovers away? Let her get a semblance of consistency, then all is good. But the media has to change the focus of who they want to highlight. There are some pretty special rookies heading into the league next year, also...

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Dream Team did this in '92 - the first year NBA players were allowed to participate in the Olympics. They had a roster that included Christian Lattner as the probable 12th roster spot. Lattner was a college All-American at the time. Promoting the future, I suspect.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

So when does this "grow the game" bubble burst? Last night's game with the Sun was an example of too much media on one player. ESPN had the score, the Sun up 20 with Clark basically doing nothing, yet the only video highlights on the site were the two threes she made. Nothing else until after the game. Once the casual Clark fan gets bored and moves to another shiny thing, then the WNBA is in trouble. They do have to start promoting...heavily...all the current and past stars and their achievements. Plus, everyone forgets Pearl Monroe is still the leading scorer in college basketball history, she just predated the NCAA. Regardless, as everyone starts to realize that Clark's stats are pretty normal for the upper level players, and not as amazing as expected (there are lots of pretty amazing players in the W) then where does all the interest come from? Being left off the team is as it should be, she's not ready quite yet. I'm sure she will be, but not yet. Frankly, for her own interests, it's probably best that she isn't on the team...how would that International audience react if she throws a few turnovers away? Let her get a semblance of consistency, then all is good. But the media has to change the focus of who they want to highlight. There are some pretty special rookies heading into the league next year, also...

This is where I’m at. Like at this point you aren’t growing the game you are growing one players profile at expense of the game.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

I look at first time 5x5 Olympians such as Copper, Plum, Young and Thomas who have all spent anywhere from 5-11 years in the WNBA grinding away for this opportunity. The tears of these players who wasn't sure if this day will ever come despite resumes and accolades that show they earned their spots. To take that away from these players for the sake of one player's popularity is slap in a a face to those who truly earned it.

And at this time I have yet to see Clark's popularity help elevate anyone else's popularity so far in the WNBA. So I'm not sure how her sitting on the end of the bench at Olympics will elevate any of the other players that some have claimed. What I have seen was Clark's fans attack her teammates and coach since the season started. I have also seen these new fans attack and talk down anyone who plays decent defense on her or happens to foul her.

So I'm glad she's not on the team. Having something to work towards is something that could really be motivating for her in the long run. The distraction and negativity that surrounds anything involving lately it isn't worth for Team USA. Also I hate that all of a sudden viewership is more important than merit at the Olympics of all places. The whole thing just feels hypocritical and this discussion would only happen with women's basketball. I haven't heard any cries for Tiger Woods to represent Team USA in golf or if it's really about viewership numbers then a 60 year old Michael Jordan playing with LeBron James and Steph Curry is what the men's team is missing then.

 

[CL82]

The one going for her 6th gold medal. Want Clark on the team ? Take someone else off, Diana was the first name on the list, not the last.

View attachment 101572

Man, Diana has long fingers.

 

[CL82]

View attachment 101591
It's happening....

What motivated their decision? Well, and I'm just spitballing here, but if I were to guess I would say putting together the best possible team to win a gold medal.

 

[CL82]

who are the people on the right ?

The upper right is former UConn great, all American, national champion, Jen Rizzotti.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

who are the people on the right ?

Clockwise from upper-left: Augustus, Staley, Rizzotti, Donaphin, Milton-Jones.

“The team was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. In addition to Rizzotti, the committee includes Dawn Staley(University of South Carolina), Bethany Donaphin (WNBA) and Dan Padover (Atlanta Dream), as well as athlete representatives Seimone Augustus and DeLisha Milton-Jones.” USAB Announcement

 

[The deacon]

No she's not even close to what players like Stewie, and A'ja did in their first year in the WNBA. You can also add Parker, and Maya Moore who had much better first years.

Unless I've lost my bearings, Stewie, A'ja, Maya and Candace aren't rookies this year, which was the point of discussion.

So why are we looking only at her? Waaaaaaahhhhhhh! Boston should be on the team. She had great rookie stats - for a full, rather than part of, a year. She was an allstar selection and Rookie of the Year. Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! But that wasn't enough to beat out the chosen ones. Boston hasn't earned a spot despite an excellent first year,

I would not have had a problem if they had chosen Clark for financial reasons. "Grow the Game" is valid in my mind,

I also have no problem with her being excluded because she hasn't earned it. I just wish the new-to-the-game whiners would grow up. Clark will have the opportunity to EARN A SPOT in the future. You can't always get what you want - NOW.

I'd be with your, visitingcock, if this were last season, but Aliyah hasn't been as effective this season.

All this said, I'm not even advocating for Caitlin being on the team. I just was responding to GoUConn7961's statement that Clark isn't even the best rookie statistically...

Enough on this one.

 

[The deacon]

Well, I'm no expert like you seem to be but according to ESPN:

"
The metrics don’t love Caitlin Clark.

Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is stunningly No. 6 in ESPN’s ranking of rookies based on a variety of advanced statistics.

The former Iowa star falls behind, in order: Cameron Brink (No. 2 pick), Angel Reese (No. 7), former Iowa teammate Kate Martin (No. 18), Rickea Jackson (No. 4) and Julie Vanloo (international signing).

Clark leads WNBA rookies with 15.6 points per game entering Friday, more than four points ahead of the second-highest scorer in Reese, but ESPN’s models are dinging her for her mediocre shooting numbers and poor defense."

 

[Vowelguy]

I love this response. And honestly, the person who should be all over the media is A'ja Wilson. I'm just tired of these women who have worked so hard to bring light on the W, and working to make successive Olympic teams being overshadowed by the media's obsession with CC. I haven't even seen one show say congratulations to the women who made the team! It's all about who was snubbed. WAAAAAAHHH is exactly right!!

Lol
They’ve worked so hard to bring light, and had limited success.
Then the tide that raises all boats —Caitlin Clark — comes along, and all anyone can do is complain.
Great, let’s go back to the way things were 2 years with less attendance, lower ratings, but you’ll get your wish: no Caitlin.

And no the media is not obsessed with CC. The public is. Look at the attendance. Look at the TV ratings.

 

[GoUconn7961]

This is where I’m at. Like at this point you aren’t growing the game you are growing one players profile at expense of the game.

I agree. I don't even watch highlights anymore after the games because they're all about one player - good or bad.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Lol
They’ve worked so hard to bring light, and had limited success.
Then the tide that raises all boats —Caitlin Clark — comes along, and all anyone can do is complain.
Great, let’s go back to the way things were 2 years with less attendance, lower ratings, but you’ll get your wish: no Caitlin.

And no the media is not obsessed with CC. The public is. Look at the attendance. Look at the TV ratings.

This take is so ignorant and short sighted. They’ve worked so hard and their success is what allowed Caitlin Clark to have a platform to become popular. WNBA and WCBB ratings and attendance was rising before CC entered the picture. She surely put napalm on the fire but without Clark WBB would still be on the rise, and honestly probably at a more sustainable rate that would be better for the long term health of the sport. We’ll see though.

 

[Puppy Love]

This take is so ignorant and short sighted. They’ve worked so hard and their success is what allowed Caitlin Clark to have a platform to become popular. WNBA and WCBB ratings and attendance was rising before CC entered the picture. She surely put napalm on the fire but without Clark WBB would still be on the rise, and honestly probably at a more sustainable rate that would be better for the long term health of the sport. We’ll see though.

@hoopsnloops32 , I never thought I’d agree with anything you posted, but I agree with this 100%. The NCAA (and refs in particular) did no one any favors by treating Caitlin Clark as a national treasure to be protected at all costs. I believe that she will be successful and probably a superstar over time. But that time isn’t now and is unfair to the legitimate superstars of the women’s game to act as though it is.

 

[JoePgh]

Something that I haven't seen being discussed at all: Why was Nneka Ogwumike (once again) snubbed? With her decade-plus record in the WNBA and her current performance when healthy, she is as deserving as Alyssa Thomas (and she is very deserving).

 

[bballnut90]

And at this time I have yet to see Clark's popularity help elevate anyone else's popularity so far in the WNBA. So I'm not sure how her sitting on the end of the bench at Olympics will elevate any of the other players that some have claimed. What I have seen was Clark's fans attack her teammates and coach since the season started. I have also seen these new fans attack and talk down anyone who plays decent defense on her or happens to foul her.

Chartered flights, improved viewership, more social media followers leading to more money making opportunities. Plus a new negotiation of the CBA contract where players will likely get much larger salaries which is largely due to the viewership and attendance Clark (and others) are bringing to the league.

For whatever reason, Clark is super polarizing. The fact is that she's bringing unprecedented level of exposure to a sport that's long overdue and there is both good and bad that comes with it, but too many people only want to see the angle they support instead of looking at the big picture as a whole.

 

[cancontent]

Chartered flights, improved viewership, more social media followers leading to more money making opportunities. Plus a new negotiation of the CBA contract where players will likely get much larger salaries which is largely due to the viewership and attendance Clark (and others) are bringing to the league.

For whatever reason, Clark is super polarizing. The fact is she's bringing unprecedented level of exposure to a sport that's long overdue and there is both good and bad that comes with it, but too many people only want to see the angle they support instead of looking at the big picture as a whole.

This 100% however, in my opinion, those who try to provide a balanced perspective like this are not being heard because their message is getting overpowered by the rest of the noise.

 

[Vowelguy]

Something that I haven't seen being discussed at all: Why was Nneka Ogwumike (once again) snubbed? With her decade-plus record in the WNBA and her current performance when healthy, she is as deserving as Alyssa Thomas (and she is very deserving).

After last time, she removed herself from USA Basketball. Even explored playing for Nigeria I believe.

 

[MilfordHusky]

After last time, she removed herself from USA Basketball. Even explored playing for Nigeria I believe.

I think when Nneka and Chiney explored playing for Nigeria, the U.S. dropped them as potential players.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Caitlin is exciting, especially when she is hitting bombs from 30’. But I would rate her ball security and defense as poor.

 

[Kaizen]

View attachment 101591
It's happening....

I think they have made a great decision not put Clark in the team. Clark wants to be in the Olympic team she has to follow all other Olympic women players' resumes.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Since when has the Olympic team been about choosing the 12 best players?

Rarely has been.

Popular young players have often made it.

It's not necessarily a bad idea for preparing the future.

It's not like team USA needs its best 13 to win.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I look at first time 5x5 Olympians such as Copper, Plum, Young and Thomas who have all spent anywhere from 5-11 years in the WNBA grinding away for this opportunity. The tears of these players who wasn't sure if this day will ever come despite resumes and accolades that show they earned their spots. To take that away from these players for the sake of one player's popularity is slap in a a face to those who truly earned it.

And at this time I have yet to see Clark's popularity help elevate anyone else's popularity so far in the WNBA. So I'm not sure how her sitting on the end of the bench at Olympics will elevate any of the other players that some have claimed. What I have seen was Clark's fans attack her teammates and coach since the season started. I have also seen these new fans attack and talk down anyone who plays decent defense on her or happens to foul her.

So I'm glad she's not on the team. Having something to work towards is something that could really be motivating for her in the long run. The distraction and negativity that surrounds anything involving lately it isn't worth for Team USA. Also I hate that all of a sudden viewership is more important than merit at the Olympics of all places. The whole thing just feels hypocritical and this discussion would only happen with women's basketball. I haven't heard any cries for Tiger Woods to represent Team USA in golf or if it's really about viewership numbers then a 60 year old Michael Jordan playing with LeBron James and Steph Curry is what the men's team is missing then.

That doesn't really make any sense.

 

[huskeynut]

What we are seeing hearing and experiencing is social media hype!!! Caitlin Clark is the unfortunate target of all this stuff. And the "pundits/ experts" are to blame.

The Olympic selection committee has spoken about their process. Popularity and fannies in the seats is not part of their selection process. Clark did not participate in the tryouts/ workouts in March/ April. She had a valid season, the NCAA tournament. She has not played with the members of the Olympic team. Like it or not, her turn will come for the Olympic team. And it is not now.

Clark needs to improve her game. Her defense is suspect as it was in college. Shooting logo 3's is not enough. I believe she will improve.

What I really object to is the press, media and social mavens saying Clark was snubbed. That is a bold faced lie. She didn't get snubbed. She didn't go thru the selection process so she was not elligible. Their articles are putting a lot of pressure on her, the Fever, the Olympic selection committee and the WNBA in general. It's not good and we are seeing the results.