Caitlin Clark left off Team USA roster for Paris Olympics, per reports
Caitlin Clark will not be on the U.S. national team for the Paris Olympics, NBC News, citing sources, reported on Saturday.
The NCAA’s Division I career scoring leader wasn’t able to make the national training camp in Cleveland because she was leading Iowa to the Final Four.
ESPN is reporting the roster will include 12 veterans, including five-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi for a sixth Olympics. Taurasi and Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner.
Joining the pair will be Olympic veterans Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who helped the U.S. win the inaugural 3×3 gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021, will also be on the team.
Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu and Kahleah Copper will make their Olympic debuts.
“We have not made any official announcement yet,” a Team USA spokesperson told NBC News.
The U.S. women have won every gold medal in women’s basketball since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The decision about Clark’s absence was first reported byThe Athletic.
Clark, who was named the WNBA’s rookies of the month, is coming off her best game in her pro career, scoring 30 points – including seven 3-pointers – in the Indiana Fever’s 85-83 win at the Washington Mystics on Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.