The US women’s basketball team faced a sharp jab from a fan of Caitlin Clark prior to their Olympic opener in Paris.
Though regarded as one of the brightest stars in the WNBA, Clark was controversially excluded from the elite roster representing the US in Paris, vying for gold.
Since being drafted by the Indiana Fever, Clark has taken the league by storm, igniting a surge of interest. Many believed her talent warranted a place on the Olympic team.
Nevertheless, the selection committee opted for more seasoned athletes with a track record of success on the global stage.
As a result, a fan of Clark took the chance to roast the American squad while they were warming up ahead of their match against Japan.
The US women’s basketball team was brutally trolled by a Caitlin Clark fan in Paris on Monday
The fan held up a sign that read ‘you need Caitlin Clark to beat us’ before their game with Japan
Clad in a Nets and Lakers jersey, the fan displayed a sign that stated: ‘You need Caitlin Clark to beat us.’
Notably, A’Ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, and other players from the US team noticed the sign as they honed their shooting skills.
However, the fan’s assertion turned out to be unfounded, as the Americans started their quest for yet another gold medal with a definitive 102-76 victory.
This incident followed comments from former Team USA women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, who mentioned that had Clark’s recent performance been factored in later, she might have earned a spot on the roster.
Having played just 12 games by the time Team USA’s roster was finalized, the Iowa star was left to observe the Olympics from home.
Clark was controversially excluded from the US Olympics team, despite storming the WNBA
Staley, speaking to NBC’s Mike Tirico, expressed that if the roster selection had occurred closer to the Olympics, it’s plausible that Clark would have made the team.
‘As a member of the selection committee, it’s your responsibility to assemble the strongest team possible,’ Staley remarked.
‘Caitlin is merely a rookie in the WNBA. [She] wasn’t performing poorly, but her current play is far superior to what it was then.’
‘If we revisited this decision, the way she has been playing puts her firmly in contention for a spot on the team, given her exceptional skills and performance. She is an elite passer, possesses great basketball IQ, and has improved considerably within her brief professional experience.’
