Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is once again the hot topic after she was left off of Team USA’s women’s basketball team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Not surprisingly, Clark has become a social media lightning rod, and her Olympic status is now in focus.
Even though the 22-year-old phenom has relatively little professional experience, there was a strong case for choosing her as Clark had previously won national player of the year twice while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and going ahead, she seems destined to be a key member of Team USA for many years to come. Not to mention, her very presence would garner millions more eyes on the games, as she proved throughout her college career and so far throughout her WNBA career. Attending the Summer Olympics in 2024 would have aided her in adjusting to the global competition.
“Real Time” host Bill Maher is one of many people who have spoken out on Clark, but the issue has more to do with how other players in the WNBA are treating her.
Maher had problems with the hard foul against Caitlin Clark when the Fever played the Chicago Sky, chalking it up in part because “women are catty.”
Maher added that Clark is being “targeted” because of her race and sexuality, per The New York Post.
“It’s (because) women are catty, the league is very lesbian and she’s not, and there’s race. There’s a lot going on,” Maher said in response to Clark being fouled hard by Chennedy Carter.
“There’s also a racial element to this… it’s not always racism when a white person succeeds.”
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Former college basketball head coach and ESPN commentator Dan Dakich brought up jealousy as a reason.
“Of course, she’s being targeted,” Dakich told TMZ Sports.
“There’s a little bit of racism or sexism in there, you know, straight white girl, okay, but that ain’t it to me.”
Dakich added that his wife predicted that many women in the league would not be welcoming to Clark because of the attention she received.
“(My wife) said you will see incredible pettiness and jealousy,” Dakich said. “We’re seeing a lot of that.”
Caitlin Clark Simply Does Not Have The Numbers That Would’ve Helped Her Olympics Case
There is no doubt that Caitlin Clark is growing the women’s game, but her popularity just wasn’t a good enough reason to put her on the Olympics team.
Clark’s performance on the court made it a no-brainer to keep her off. She is averaging 16.8 points on 37.3 percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
If everything pans out, she should be dominating when the Olympics come around again in four years.
Also Read: VIDEO: Things Got Out-Of-Control During Insanely Heated Debate About Caitlin Clark On ‘First Take’
