Should Clark be on the Olympic team?

[LwrcasefaN]

This is such an interesting comment given that the Olympics have always been about amateur athletes, at least from the perspective of the USA. But then, I'm a fossil.

That ship sailed for the US in the 80s. No more Miracles on Ice.

 

[Audi1954]

When do they actually choose the team? By what date? Will she have a chance to prove herself during the WNBA season?

 

[bballnut90]

I think they'd be foolish to not give her a strong look depending on how the first 2 months of the WNBA season go (roster is finalized in July). The pool of guards is strong but there's no question I'd take Clark over 42 year old Diana Taurasi who has not been an Olympic caliber athlete in years.

 

[TheFarmFan]

If she earns it at training camp, then yes. I'll defer to our national coaching staff on making that call.

 

[WBBTakeover]

If it's between CC and 42-year-old DT for the final spot, then yes--the spot should go to CC. Like, come on.

If it's between CC and in-her-prime KP or has-played-well-so-far SI, then I think she would have a real fight on her hands.

 

[Puppy Love]

I don’t know about the Olympics, but she was great on SNL.

 

[JellyBean]

I voted "Yes" Caitlin Clark should be on the Olympic team. She is coming for somebody's roster spot. She is a gamer.

 

[Aluminny69]

 

[CTBballfan243]

She should be invited to try out. After that, it’s up to the coach.

I would argue (after she is invited) it's up to her to prove she belongs on the team and beat someone out for a spot on the team.

 

[visitingcock]

I would argue (after she is invited) it's up to her to prove she belongs on the team and beat someone out for a spot on the team.

Whether she "beats someone out" should be up to the coach.

 

[baggerbob]

She needs to earn the spot playing on the pro level. She hasn't even had the opportunity yet to practice with the Olympic invitees.

Taurasi should get the spot, unless Clark can actually beat her out for the position. I don’t think that’s happening. Remember Clark isn’t going to get all the calls she got in college.

DT shouldn't be on this team, she now is not among the best players in the game.

 

[CTBballfan243]

DT shouldn't be on this team, she now is not among the best players in the game.

Says who? Let someone beat her for a spot.

 

[Topdawg]

She should try out, certainly. The selection committee should pick the best team. It will have many of the best players, but not all of the players selected will be the best players. There should also be one or two young players selected so every Olympic team has some returning players.

 

[bballnut90]

Says who? Let someone beat her for a spot.

When looking at guards you have Jewell Loyd, Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Rhyne Howard, Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Mitchell, Brittney Sykes, Chelsea Gray, Alisha Gray, Natasha Cloud, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sabrina Ionescu. All have been better players than Taurasi for several years now.

 

[Dillon77]

"Beat out" for a spot is an interesting phrase. In the case of younger players, it generally means show more than experienced players who have been on the team before.

In a perfect world, every player named to the 12-pereson squad by the Nominating Committee should've beaten out a lot of other contenders to have made the team. As many will contend, sometimes this isn't enough and there may be other factors.

I think Caitlin Clark should be given the full opportunity to gain a spot on the team, just like everyone from Diana Taurasi and Kelsey Plum to Chelsea Gray and Sabrina Ionescu. I'd just hope the judging lens is the same for everyone.

Go U.S.A.!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Says who? Let someone beat her for a spot.

Yeah, I don't think someone beating her out is gonna be a problem, it's a matter of if the selection committee decides to give her a spot for nostalgia. I really hope they don't. 5 gold medals is plenty, she doesn't need another.

 

[WBBTakeover]

In the spirit of objectivity, what does Diana Taurasi at 42 bring that isn't covered by the following (in some capacity):

Kahleah Copper
Chelsea Gray
Rhyne Howard
Sabrina Ionescu
Jewell Loyd
Kelsey Plum
Jackie Young

and if we take into consideration other players (superstars, mind you) who can play on the perimeter:

Napheesa Collier
Breanna Stewart

where does that leave an aging Taurasi?

From a purely objective standpoint, the numbers are CLEARLY not in her favor. But alas...

 

[WBBTakeover]

Yeah, I don't think someone beating her out is gonna be a problem, it's a matter of if the selection committee decides to give her a spot for nostalgia. I really hope they don't. 5 gold medals is plenty, she doesn't need another.

I remember her being one of the people who laughed at Lisa Leslie when LL was posing with all four of her gold medals in Beijing. But now she wants six--and I'm sure they won't just serve as paperweights.

 

[UConnCat]

I laugh a bit about beating another play out for a spot at training camp. I'm not sure what that even means. There's much more at issue when it comes to the selection committee picking the team.

I've had the good fortune to attend a couple of world cups (Istanbul in 2014 and Tenerife 2018) and was able to see first hand what it's like to play under the pressure of the international stage. The pressure is even greater at the Olympics though the participating countries take the world cup very seriously.

In Istanbul I saw Breanna Stewart look completely overwhelmed in the few minutes she spent on the court in Istanbul, and those minutes were when the games were out of reach. Granted, Stewart was entering her junior season at UConn but she was also a two-time MVP of the Final Four and had experience on college basketball's biggest stage. Stewart looked more comfortable in Rio 2 years later.

In Tenerife I watched Kelsey Plum and Jewel Loyd look extremely nervous in the minutes they played. Loyd eventually settled in, Plum did not. I think getting comfortable in international play is more difficult for guards than post players. I also had a front-row seat to A'ja Wilson's nervousness as well. She was a far cry from the player we saw playing for USA Basketball a couple years later.

In Beijing, a very experienced Diggins-Smith hardly played (6 mins/game) and looked overwhelmed when she did.

The roster has to include players, particularly guards, who are experienced playing on the Olympic stage. If Clark makes the team, I highly doubt she'll be on the court for meaningful minutes. She'll be on the team to experience what it's like to be a member of USA Basketball and to understand what it takes to play at that level. She'll be put on the team for the future, rather than the present.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I laugh a bit about beating another play out for a spot at training camp. I'm not sure what that even means. There's much more at issue when it comes to the selection committee picking the team.

I've had the good fortune to attend a couple of world cups (Istanbul in 2014 and Tenerife 2018) and was able to see first hand what it's like to play under the pressure of the international stage. The pressure is even greater at the Olympics though the participating countries take the world cup very seriously.

In Istanbul I saw Breanna Stewart look completely overwhelmed in the few minutes she spent on the court in Istanbul, and those minutes were when the games were out of reach. Granted, Stewart was entering her junior season at UConn but she was also a two-time MVP of the Final Four and had experience on college basketball's biggest stage. Stewart looked more comfortable in Rio 2 years later.

In Tenerife I watched Kelsey Plum and Jewel Loyd look extremely nervous in the minutes they played. Loyd eventually settled in, Plum did not. I think getting comfortable in international play is more difficult for guards than post players. I also had a front-row seat to A'ja Wilson's nervousness as well. She was a far cry from the player we saw playing for USA Basketball a couple years later.

In Beijing, a very experienced Diggins-Smith hardly played (6 mins/game) and looked overwhelmed when she did.

The roster has to include players, particularly guards, who are experienced playing on the Olympic stage. If Clark makes the team, I highly doubt she'll be on the court for meaningful minutes. She'll be on the team to experience what it's like to be a member of USA Basketball and to understand what it takes to play at that level. She'll be put on the team for the future, rather than the present.

You've got a classic Catch 22 there. The only way to get experience...is to get experience. It wasn't the Olympics, but the guards who were on the team for the '22 FIBA World Cup looked comfortable and capable. That group was C. Gray, Loyd, Copper, Laney, Plum, Ionescu and Atkins. Maybe a few of them didn't play much, but honestly that team was way more dominant than the '21 Olympic team.

 

[bballnut90]

I laugh a bit about beating another play out for a spot at training camp. I'm not sure what that even means. There's much more at issue when it comes to the selection committee picking the team.

I've had the good fortune to attend a couple of world cups (Istanbul in 2014 and Tenerife 2018) and was able to see first hand what it's like to play under the pressure of the international stage. The pressure is even greater at the Olympics though the participating countries take the world cup very seriously.

In Istanbul I saw Breanna Stewart look completely overwhelmed in the few minutes she spent on the court in Istanbul, and those minutes were when the games were out of reach. Granted, Stewart was entering her junior season at UConn but she was also a two-time MVP of the Final Four and had experience on college basketball's biggest stage. Stewart looked more comfortable in Rio 2 years later.

In Tenerife I watched Kelsey Plum and Jewel Loyd look extremely nervous in the minutes they played. Loyd eventually settled in, Plum did not. I think getting comfortable in international play is more difficult for guards than post players. I also had a front-row seat to A'ja Wilson's nervousness as well. She was a far cry from the player we saw playing for USA Basketball a couple years later.

In Beijing, a very experienced Diggins-Smith hardly played (6 mins/game) and looked overwhelmed when she did.

The roster has to include players, particularly guards, who are experienced playing on the Olympic stage. If Clark makes the team, I highly doubt she'll be on the court for meaningful minutes. She'll be on the team to experience what it's like to be a member of USA Basketball and to understand what it takes to play at that level. She'll be put on the team for the future, rather than the present.

If there's anyone who has felt the weight of the world on her shoulders in women's basketball, it's Caitlin Clark. It's a no brainer to bring some of your best up and coming talent to the Olympics so they'll get exposure and be ready to take on a more meaningful role in future international competitions. In regard to needing experienced guards, we have Gray, Loyd, Diggins-Smith and Atkins who all played in 2021 and should be in the mix for 2024. Not to mention Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young who won Gold in 3v3 in Tokyo. That's 7 guards with returning Olympic experience in contention who are still in the prime of their careers.

 

[cancontent]

I don't think so, I can't see her being able to deal with the physicality that is FIBA basketball. She needs to transform her body like a Kelsey Plum first.

She's played FIBA ball for years and has won MVP awards at those levels. She should be more than aware about the physicality by now. She's also played in the BIG10 which isn't exactly known for being a finesse conference. The question to me is whether she can beat guards like Plum, Gray (if healthy), Ionsecu, and Taurasi.

 

[GoingPostal]

I have zero idea what anyone else has said, but Caitlin
Clark deserves an invite to try out for the Olympic team. Do I think she has benefited from the fact that Paige has been off the radar screen for the past two years, yes. If Paige had been healthy for those two years, Caitlin would have been seen as a prolific scorer on a team with a good chance to make the final four. A transformative figure for the women's game? No. Not really. Can she bring attention to WCBB, absolutely. I wish her "all the best" for WNBA career.

 

[cancontent]

I have zero idea what anyone else has said, but Caitlin
Clark deserves an invite to try out for the Olympic team. Do I think she has benefited from the fact that Paige has been off the radar screen for the past two years, yes. If Paige had been healthy for those two years, Caitlin would have been seen as a prolific scorer on a team with a good chance to make the final four. A transformative figure for the women's game? No. Not really. Can she bring attention to WCBB, absolutely. I wish her "all the best" for WNBA career.

Paraphrasing to make sure I understand your point.

What I'm getting from this is had Paige been fully healthy, Clark would have been seen as a prolific scorer, but not a transformative figure in the sport. Is that correct?

If yes, I'm not sure if I agree. I could see them both being seen as transformative players but in different ways. Kind of like the Bird and Magic version for women's basketball heading into the pros.

 

[Dillon77]

She's played FIBA ball for years and has won MVP awards at those levels. She should be more than aware about the physicality by now. She's also played in the BIG10 which isn't exactly known for being a finesse conference. The question to me is whether she can beat guards like Plum, Gray (if healthy), Ionsecu, and Taurasi.

@GCKSFN4L

If memory serves, the last time Caitlin Clark represented the U.S.A. was at the U-19 World Cup in Europe, in which she led a team of college underclassmen and high schoolers to the Gold Medal. Other teams knew who she was and it didn't really matter: CC directed the flow of traffic and scored when needed. Interestingly, the oldest (Clark) and youngest (Sonia Citron) players on that team were named to the All Tournament Team. Both CC and Citron are trim (lithe) but had no trouble with the international game.

 

[Rowdy831]

So, I believe Diana Taurasi played on Olympic Team the year she graduated, 2004. There must be others.

My question is, who gets the 12th roster spot, a 40 year old Taurasi, or a 22 year old Clark?

On this site it would be Taurasi but in the eyes of basketball fans in general it would be Clark. On one hand you have the most exciting player to ever play the women's game and on the other you have a washed up 40 something. If any player in their 40s is one of your 12 best it doesn't say much about the talent in your game and even less about the leadership responsible for growing the game.

At one time I thought Diana was the person that Clark is now. She has had a pretty amazing career but it is time for her to move into whatever is next for her in her life and leave basketball to now generation.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

@GCKSFN4L

If memory serves, the last time Caitlin Clark represented the U.S.A. was at the U-19 World Cup in Europe, in which she led a team of college underclassmen and high schoolers to the Gold Medal. Other teams knew who she was and it didn't really matter: CC directed the flow of traffic and scored when needed. Interestingly, the oldest (Clark) and youngest (Sonia Citron) players on that team were named to the All Tournament Team. Both CC and Citron are trim (lithe) but had no trouble with the international game.

Yes but U19 is different than grown women respectfully. It's a lot different getting hit by a screen from a 19 year old kid than a Erika de Souza type of player. I saw Clark seemingly struggle with what I consider minimum contact this season. I believe it was Cotie McMahon who had boxed her out for a rebound and they had to stop the game on what the replay showed was a very routine box out. That's why I believe she needs some time before being placed in that environment.

 

[Dillon77]

Yes but U19 is different than grown women respectfully. It's a lot different getting hit by a screen from a 19 year old kid than a Erika de Souza type of player. I saw Clark seemingly struggle with what I consider minimum contact this season. I believe it was Cotie McMahon who had boxed her out for a rebound and they had to stop the game on what the replay showed was a very routine box out. That's why I believe she needs some time before being placed in that environment.

One box out by Cotie McMahon is, well, one box out. Plus, Cotie McMahon is one of the most solidly built forwards in the game right now and could take out many of the guards listed in these conversations. As for "routine," I still play hoops every Sunday morning and some of my most "whoa, that got me" moments have been on routine screens, box outs, etc. Sometimes an elbow or hip just zings you the right -- err, wrong -- way.

Don't worry -- I get your point. I just happen to have a different one. She's stronger than she looks and will do fine in an international setting at the next level. The only thing that might hold her back now is making the team.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

One box out by Cotie McMahon is, well, one box out. Plus, Cotie McMahon is one of the most solidly built forwards in the game right now and could take out many of the guards listed in these conversations. As for "routine," I still play hoops every Sunday morning and some of my most "whoa, that got me" moments have been on routine screens, box outs, etc. Sometimes an elbow or hip just zings you the right -- err, wrong -- way.

Don't worry -- I get your point. I just happen to have a different one. She's stronger than she looks and will do fine in an international setting at the next level. The only thing that might hold her back now is making the team.

If it was one isolated incident i would be inclined to agree. I wish I could find the clip because It seemed pretty absurd at the time. Dealing with physicality isn't her strong suit and that's what dominates the FIBA style at the senior level. But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Just giving my opinion like everyone else.

 

[Dillon77]

If it was one isolated incident i would be inclined to agree. I wish I could find the clip because It seemed pretty absurd at the time. Dealing with physicality isn't her strong suit and that's what dominates the FIBA style at the senior level. But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Just giving my opinion like everyone else.

No worries. I'll continue conversations if the give and take is interesting, civil and one/both of us can learn something/get a chuckle.

Will firmly admit that she's not solidly built such as two ND guards who have done well on international circuits, like Marina Mabrey or Jackie Young. CC will probably never be built like those two. On the other hand, she's not backing into the lane like Young or driving hard down both sides because she's ambidextrous like Mabrey. What CC can do is have that outrageous ability to free up just enough space for her shot. That's why I don't worry about the physical nature as much.

Stay tuned...we'll see (or not) soon enough.