00:00Did you hear the latest buzz about Caitlyn Clark? This young superstar who has taken
00:17the basketball world by storm was shockingly left off Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. Let's
00:23dive into the drama and find out what's really going on.
00:27So Caitlyn Clark, the name on everyone's lips, has been tearing it up on the court.
00:31She's not just any player, she's the most prolific scorer in college basketball history.
00:36Breaking records left and right after being the number one overall draft pick by the Indiana
00:40Fever, everyone thought she'd be a shoo-in for the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team.
00:45But guess what? She got snubbed. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver isn't sweating it, though. He
00:50recently mentioned that the selection committee simply did their job and hinted that Clark's
00:54absence is not the end of her international career.
00:57According to Silver, she's gonna have a great career ahead of her. She's already proving
01:02that she can compete at the highest level.
01:04While it's true that Caitlyn didn't attend a Team USA senior camp, leaving her off the
01:08Olympic roster is still a head-scratcher. I mean, wouldn't you want the hottest name
01:12in basketball on your team, especially for the marketability?
01:16Yet USA Basketball has its standards, and they decided to stick to them. Silver reassured
01:22everyone that at just 22, Caitlyn's time will come. She's already shining in the WNBA,
01:27being named Rookie of the Month, and showing she can hang with the best. So, it's only
01:32a matter of time before she gets her shot on the international stage.
01:36Let's dive into what everyone's saying about this jaw-dropping decision.
01:39Colin Coward didn't hold back on FS1's The Herd. He voiced his disapproval loud and clear,
01:45pointing out the inconsistency in the selection process.
01:49Caitlyn Clarke, who is not one of the top 12, 15 WNBA players, did not make the Olympic
01:54team. He highlighted that talent isn't the only factor at play, mentioning how politics
01:58often dictate selection, just as it did when Christian Lattner made the team despite not
02:03being a top NBA player.
02:05Coward's frustration was palpable as he compared Clarke to legends like Tiger Woods and Muhammad
02:09Ali, arguing that her inclusion would not only draw massive viewership but also benefit
02:14her teammates financially through endorsements. He emphasized that the women's Olympic basketball
02:18team has been consistently successful but lacks the viewership they deserve.
02:23Nick Nurse and Joy Taylor echoed Coward's sentiments on FS1's Speak, both surprised
02:28and critical of the decision. Taylor pointed out the dual nature of the selection process,
02:33balancing the best representation of the sport with what's best for growing it.
02:37She argued that, from a marketing and business perspective, leaving Clarke off the team was
02:41a mistake.
02:42The attention that the sport is getting is because of Caitlyn Clarke. She is bringing
02:46eyeballs. She is bringing sponsors. She is putting people in the seats.
02:51Paul Pierce also weighed in on FS1's Undisputed, calling it disrespectful to exclude Clarke.
02:57He stressed the importance of recognizing the bigger picture, suggesting that the decision
03:01was a setback for women's basketball.
03:03You claim you want the women's game to grow, but you keep the most popular girl in women's
03:07basketball off the team, Pierce said. Sometimes you have to say, hey guys, this is bigger
03:12than the game. Women's basketball is at an all-time high because of Caitlyn Clarke.
03:17I think women's basketball is taking a step back. The reactions are clear.
03:21From commentators to former players, there's a consensus that leaving Caitlyn Clarke off
03:26the Olympic roster was a massive oversight, one that could have significant implications
03:30for the future of women's basketball.
03:32Leaf between Caitlyn Clarke and Chennedy Carter
03:35It all started on June 1st, when the Indiana Fever clashed with the Chicago Sky. Near the
03:40end of the third quarter, things got heated. Sky guard Chennedy Carter picked up Fever
03:44rookie Caitlyn Clarke full court. Out of nowhere, Carter hip-checked Clarke before Aaliyah Boston
03:50could inbound the ball. The officials initially called it a common foul, but the whole basketball
03:55world saw the cheap shot on national TV, thanks to ESPN's broadcast.
03:59Carter's hip-check was later reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant one by the WNBA League
04:03golfists. Despite the rough play, the Fever managed to pull off a 71-70 win, but the game
04:10itself was overshadowed by the controversy. In their first matchup, Carter was tasked
04:15with guarding Clarke. She played tough, but late in the third quarter, her aggression
04:19went too far. Carter's hip-check was meant to throw Clarke off her game, but it backfired
04:24spectacularly, sparking a media frenzy.
04:28Clarke addressed the incident calmly after the game, saying,
04:31That's just not a basketball play, but gotta play through it.
04:33Carter, on the other hand, refused to discuss Clarke during her post-game media session,
04:38bluntly stating,
04:42Carter took to social media to mock Clarke, writing,
04:51The hip-check and subsequent comments ignited a firestorm of opinions from media personalities
04:56and athletes alike. NBA star Draymond Green suggested the Fever needed an enforcer to
05:01protect Clarke. Interestingly, this incident highlighted a double standard. Just days earlier,
05:07Sky rookie Angel Reese suffered a harder foul that led to an ejection, but it didn't receive
05:12nearly the same level of attention.
05:15Nearly a week after the foul-made headline, Clarke addressed the situation with poise.
05:19She emphasized her focus on basketball, lamenting that the conversation often shifts away from
05:24the game itself.
05:30Clarke said,
05:31When asked specifically about Carter, Clarke showed no hard feelings and praised her for
05:35a strong season.
05:36Now, are you excited to hear about the game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky?
05:40They had all the drama and excitement you could imagine. It was a game for the ages,
05:45with Kaitlyn Clarke delivering one of her best performances in the WNBA so far.
05:50The real talking point was a heated play involving Angel Reese.
05:54During the game, Reese went for a block on Clarke but ended up hitting her in the head.
05:58The incident sparked immediate outrage and debate. NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal criticized
06:03Reese for what he called a dirty play. Others, like ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, suggested Reese
06:08might have aimed for the ball, but the consensus was clear.
06:11Post-game, Angel Reese escalated the situation by claiming,
06:14Kaitlyn Clarke gets a special whistle.
06:17This comment fueled further controversy, highlighting Reese's habit of making provocative
06:21statements.
06:22In stark contrast, Kaitlyn Clarke handled the situation with grace. She focused on the
06:27positives of the game and avoided escalating the conflict.
06:30My focus is basketball. Sometimes it stinks how much the conversation is outside of basketball
06:36and not the product on the floor.
06:37She said,
06:38Emphasizing her love for the game, Clarke even praised Reese, acknowledging her as a
06:42tremendous player and pointing out the benefits their matchups bring to the sport.
06:47Fans can't get enough of the Clarke-Reese rivalry, not just for the drama but for the
06:51high level of competition. Clarke's comments post-game reflect her understanding of the
06:55bigger picture.
06:56It's been fun getting to compete against Reese. It's been really good for the game, she noted.
07:02The drama didn't stop there.
07:03Deke Harrington's tweet,
07:04How can one not be bothered by their name being used to justify racism and homophobia?
07:09stirred the pot further, seen as a direct attack on the attention and platform Clarke
07:13has gained.
07:14When asked about the misuse of her name in negative context, Clarke's response was straightforward.
07:19People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It's disappointing.
07:24She stated,
07:25Reaffirming her commitment to respecting all players and focusing on basketball. What do
07:29they want from her?
07:30The ongoing narrative around Caitlyn Clarke is complex. She's a phenomenal player who
07:35brings attention to women's basketball, yet she's often caught in controversies not of
07:39her own making.
07:40As Clarke continues to shine on the court, the hope is that the focus remains on her
07:44talent and contribution to the game, rather than the unnecessary drama. So what do they
07:49really want from Caitlyn Clarke?
07:51The answer seems clear. Just let her play basketball and respect the game.
07:56Stay tuned for more on this thrilling season and don't forget to leave your thoughts in
08:00the comments below.
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