USA Basketball defends Caitlin Clark’s exclusion from Olympic roster: ‘Hope that she’s a big part of our future’
Reports of Clark’s exclusion drew criticism for the potential viewership loss.
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Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever walks off of the court after a game against the Connecticut Sun during the second half at the Mohegan Sun Arena, June 10, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn.
Brian Fluharty/Getty Images
A USA Basketball executive has come forward to defend the organization’s decision not to include Caitlin Clark on the 2024 Paris Olympics roster.
“When you base your decision on criteria, there were other players that were harder to cut because they checked a lot more boxes. Then, sometimes it comes down to position, style of play for [coach Cheryl Reeve], and then sometimes a vote,” USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee chair Jen Rizzotti said in an interview with The Associated Press published Tuesday.
Clark was reportedly left off the roster due to her lack of experience compared to those included, according to the AP.
Clark, the No. 1 pick of the 2024 WNBA draft and the highest scoring player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history, was noticeably absent from the Olympic roster that was officially announced on Tuesday and included WNBA stars like Diana Taurasi, Kelsey Plum, Brittney Griner and Sabrina Ionescu.
Reports of Clark’s exclusion drew criticism, with some pointing at what seemed to be a missed opportunity to draw more attention to the team.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever handles the ball in the first quarter against Karlie Samuelson #4…Greg Fiume/Getty Images
“It would be irresponsible for us to talk about her in a way other than how she would impact the play of the team,” Rizzotti, a former star at the University of Connecticut, said this week, speaking with the AP.
She reiterated the goal of the selection committee was crafting a cohesive and competitive team, adding that “it wasn’t the purview of our committee to decide how many people would watch or how many people would root for the U.S. It was our purview to create the best team we could for Cheryl.”
USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley told the AP he was optimistic about Clark’s future with USA Basketball.
“She’s certainly going to continue to get better and better,” Tooley said, regarding the newly minted Indiana Fever star. “Really hope that she’s a big part of our future going forward.”
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Clark was supportive of those who did make the team when asked about the reports she had been left off the team after practice last week.
“I’m excited for the girls that are on the team. I know it’s the most competitive team in the world,” Clark said.
MORE: Caitlin Clark makes WNBA debut
“I think it just gives you something to work for,” she continued. “I think it’s just a little more motivation.”
Team USA will be chasing their eighth straight Olympic gold medal in Paris this summer, which would bring their total to 10 if they win.
Notable milestones on this year’s roster include Taurasi’s sixth-straight Olympic appearance and Griner’s first competition abroad since her detainment in a Russian prison in 2022.
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SHOULD JAMES JONES BE DISAPPOINTED IN AARON RODGERS FOR SKIPPING JETS MINICAMP? | NFL | SPEAK
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NFL mandatory minicamp overreactions: Should Aaron Rodgers have been with Jets? Will Bengals sign both WRs?
NFL mandatory minicamp season is in full swing, with 22 of the 32 teams having the conclusion of Phase Three of their offseason programs this week. The other teams ended their spring season last week, getting an early start on summer.
With mandatory minicamps across the league in full force, plenty of storylines headline the NFL in mid-June. Which storylines this week have been overreactions and which ones are worth paying attention to with summer approaching?
Aaron Rodgers should have been at Jets mandatory minicamp
Overreaction or Reality: Overreaction
Rodgers had an unexcused absence from the first practice of Jets mandatory minicamp because of an event that’s important to him. That’s fine by the Jets, but not one they can hand out to just one player. Rodgers will get fined for the day and he and the Jets will move on.
This is only the first practice Rodgers has missed, as the quarterback has been present at every voluntary workout. Missing a practice in June doesn’t relate toward missing a training camp practice in August for a similar event.
The Jets may not be happy Rodgers was absent, but they can’t allow every player on their team to miss practice for “events” that come up. If anything, the Jets are at fault for making this a headline when it didn’t have to be.
This story is a nothing-burger.
Jets should have given Haason Reddick a contract extension when they traded for him
Overreaction or Reality: Reality
Why did the Jets trade for Reddick and think a change of scenery was what he wanted? Reddick never wanted to leave the Philadelphia Eagles, but he did want a long-term extension and wished to be paid as one of the best pass rushers in football. Getting traded to another team wasn’t going to change that.
The Jets traded for Reddick and didn’t agree to a long-term extension immediately. That was a major miss by the front office, especially with Reddick only making $15 million in the final year of his deal. Reddick is the 19th-highest paid edge rusher in football, clearly underpaid for a player who has four straight double-digit sack seasons (only Myles Garrett has done that over the last four years). He’s also fourth in the league in sacks since the start of the 2020 season (50.5).
Reddick deserves to be paid amongst the best edge rushers in the game, even for a player who will be 30 years old this year. The Jets should have given him the extension once they traded for Reddick, as most of these deals typically happen after a trade is made.
Bengals will sign Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term deals
Overreaction or Reality: Overreaction
The Bengals received excellent news when Chase was present for mandatory minicamp, despite his previous absence and wanting a new contract. Of the 2020 and 2021 wide receivers, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith each earned $25-plus million per year in their contract extensions. Chase will certainly top $30 million.
Cincinnati will make sure Chase is signed, but what about Higgins? The franchise tag of $21.8 million has been slapped on Higgins, but he hasn’t signed it yet in hopes of a long-term extension. Will the Bengals give him one or settle for an altered one-year deal before allowing him to test free agency?
With the inflating wide receiver market, it will be significantly harder to pay Higgins given the Bengals will have to sign Chase. Higgins also will likely seek to be paid amongst the top-10 wide receivers in the game.
The Bengals will have the cap space to pay both for 2025 and beyond, but Chase is the priority. Signing both is the challenge this offseason.
Daniel Jones is hurting his chances to win the Giants starting QB job
Overreaction or Reality: Overreaction
Jones is still recovering from last year’s ACL injury and will be held out of team drills during mandatory minicamp. That gives Drew Lock an opportunity to work with the first team in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11s, giving him more reps with Malik Nabers, Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson — ones Jones could be getting as the team’s QB1.
While Jones is expected to be ready for training camp, Lock is getting those valuable reps this offseason while Jones is rehabbing. Jones is the starting quarterback of this team and will be once training camp starts.
Could Lock have an advantage over Jones because of the minicamp reps? Sure, but Jones is going to start for the Giants in Week 1. Rehabbing from a torn ACL isn’t going to cost Jones his job. His play on the field this fall is a different story.
Browns won’t sign Amari Cooper to a contract extension after the season
Overreaction or Reality: Reality
The Browns have an interesting decision to make regarding Cooper, who didn’t show up to mandatory minicamp despite being in a contract year. Cooper is clearly Cleveland’s No. 1 wide receiver, who is coming off a season which he had 72 catches for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns (17.4 yards per catch).
Over the last two seasons, Cooper is eighth in receiving yards (2,410) and 10th in yards per catch (16.1). That’s great value for a player who is only making $20 million a year (tied for 20th in NFL).
The wide receiver market has inflated this offseason and will only get higher. How much will Cooper make if he has another season with 70-plus catches and 1,110-plus receiving yards (and he’s only 30)? Will the Browns pay Cooper north of $28 million per year?
Keep in mind Cleveland is also projected to be $42.9 million over the salary cap next year. There just may not be room to sign Cooper next offseason, no matter how well he produces.
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CHIEFS’ CHRIS JONES LAYS OUT IDEAL RETIREMENT PLAN WITH TE TRAVIS KELCE, EYES 20-SACK SEASON IN 2024
Chiefs’ Chris Jones lays out ideal retirement plan with TE Travis Kelce, eyes 20-sack season in 2024Published
Even the mere mention of teammate Travis Kelce discussing retirement recently made Chris Jones shudder.
Jones, the All-Pro defensive lineman, spoke to the media Wednesday — one day after Kelce did — and was asked about his teammate since 2016 openly discussing the end of his career. Granted, Kelce said he’ll play “until the wheels come off” and gave no indication that 2024 would be his final season in the NFL, but Jones wasn’t even willing to go that far.
“Once you begin to think about things like that, you’re getting to feed the mind those types of thoughts,” Jones told reporters on Wednesday. “I don’t even want my mind to even go that far to the ‘R’ word.”
Jones, 29, signed a new five-year extension to remain with the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason and has no plans on being anywhere else during that span. He even encouraged Kelce to stick around through the end of Jones’ current deal.
“He’s got like four or five more years (left), and what is he talking about, right?” Jones said. “We can’t let TK go. … We’ve got to retire together. Give me at least six, four years, then we’ll talk aboutRELATED LINKS
Four more years for Kelce might be pushing it. Six more would push him past the age of 40. But if the Chiefs keep winning, who knows?
Jones has the luxury of time, as he’s nearly five years younger than Kelce, and he still has plenty of team and individual goals left, even after three Super Bowl championships and five All-Pro mentions. This coming season, Jones is shooting for 20 sacks and a third straight Super Bowl title, which has never been done before.
“It’s (going to be) tough as hell,” Jones said, “but I’m going to do it.”
Twice Jones has reached 15.5 sacks in a season, once in 16 games and once in 17 games. Last season, he had 10.5 sacks in spite of missing the Week 1 loss to the Lions while holding out for a new contract.
After reporting to the team the following week, Jones racked up one-plus sack in each of his first five games, had a two-sack game against the Eagles and finished the season with sacks in each of his final three regular-season games.
When asked what it might take to hit the 20-sack plateau, Jones said: “Everything, everything. God, luck, some unselfish teammates and “Sack Nation,'” which is his nickname for a Chiefs pass-rush unit that ranked second in the NFL in sacks a year ago.
It might also take all those things for Jones and Kelce to team up for five more years, but the Chiefs look like Super Bowl contenders for however long their run together continues
