The real reason Caitlin Clark was left off Team USA for the Olympic Games in Paris last year has been revealed.
The Olympic committee’s decision to go to France without Clark was a very controversial one, given her college feats ahead of her ascension to the pros, the strong rookie season she was having, and the fact that she’s been the face of the WNBA since getting drafted.
Fans were enraged by the Fever star’s snub, which was a hot topic for several weeks. However, reporter and author Christine Brennan has suggested that the blame actually lies with Caitlin as she rejected the chance to go to the Olympics with the 3X3 team.
Caitlin Clark Reportedly Rejected Olympic Offer
Caitlin Clark (Photo By Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Brennan wrote a book titled ‘On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports,’ in which she claimed that the Indiana guard turned down a chance to play for the 3X3 team and used the Olympic break to rest instead.
It’s said that Clark spurned the offer “well before June,” with Team USA extending it in the knowledge that there was still a qualifying event she could participate in that would see her gain enough FIBA ranking points to become eligible for the Olympics.
Clark told reporters she was excited for the players who did get chosen, following her snub, claiming she was not disappointed and would use it as motivation.
She also revealed she was not blindsided by the decision as she was informed ahead of the news coming out.
“They called me and let me know before everything came out, which was really respectful of them and I appreciated that,” she said.