WNBA Legend Lisa Leslie Breaks Silence on Caitlin Clark’s Team USA Snub

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is not with USA Basketball for the Paris Olympics

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is off to a historic start to her WNBA career. After breaking multiple records in the first half of her rookie season, Clark enters the Olympic break leading the NBA in assists.

Clark’s individual production is among the WNBA’s best, but she was not selected for USA Basketball’s Paris Olympics roster. This decision was controversial to many, and on a recent episode of The Gold Standard podcast, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie spoke about some of the snubs.

When jokingly asked if Team USA should call Leslie if they need a replacement, the former Los Angeles Sparks star said, “No, they should definitely call Caitlin Clark; they should call Angel Reese… and Arike Ogunbowale; I don’t know how they left the country without her.”

Leslie also added that there is more to making Team USA than individual production, which is especially relevant in Clark’s case.

“The committee has a tough job,” Leslie said. “It’s not just about basketball. It’s about chemistry; it’s about sometimes players showing up for different camps that build up to the Olympics… It’s not just about talent.”

Because Clark’s Iowa team made a deep tournament run last season, she was unable to attend Team USA’s training camp. As Leslie suggested, this could have played a role in her being left off the team.

This discussion about Team USA began when Leslie discussed worthy candidates like Clark, Angel Reese, and Arike Ogunbowale, who were each left off the Olympic team roster. Following this by placing emphasis on the importance of training camp, Leslie seemed to suggest that is why Clark was snubbed from the team.

This discussion about Team USA began when Leslie discussed worthy candidates like Clark, Angel Reese, and Arike Ogunbowale, who were each left off the Olympic team roster. Following this by placing emphasis on the importance of training camp, Leslie seemed to suggest that is why Clark was snubbed from the team.

Clark was invited to USA Basketball’s training camp, but the team wrote in their March press release, “Caitlin Clark will attend training camp, contingent on the University of Iowa’s progression through the NCAA Tournament.”

Because Iowa made the Final Four, Clark could not attend the camp and was ultimately left off the roster.