Clark, 22, has emerged as the face of basketball since leading the University of Iowa to back-to-back national championships and becoming the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA draft, but she was left out of USA Basketball's veteran-heavy squad seeking its eighth consecutive gold medal.
USA Basketball's roster will be anchored by five-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi and WNBA stars A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. The group is also expected to include Napheesa Collier, Ka'liah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewel Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young. The decision to opt out of Clark was first reported by USA Today and The Athletic.
A hugely popular rookie for the Indiana Fever, Clark became the NCAA's all-time leading scorer during her senior year at the University of Iowa, dazzling fans with her deep three-point shooting and excellent passing vision. In 12 games with the Fever, Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. While she has struggled with turnovers and shooting efficiency as she adjusts to the pro game, Clark is one of just two WNBA players to average at least 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists this season.
Following Clark's arrival in the WNBA, the Fever saw significant increases in television ratings, attendance, and merchandise sales, even though they only won three of their first twelve games.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that Clark has “tremendous interest” in the WNBA and acknowledged that she has been treated like a “welcome to the league” by opponents, especially after a recent flagrant foul by Chicago Sky player Chennedy Carter sparked controversy among fans and media.
“I want to see Kaitlyn treated fairly and appropriately in the league,” Silver said. “She seems to take care of herself. She's a tough player. … I think the budding rivalries in professional basketball are ultimately good for the sport.”
“There are also larger societal issues at play, there's no doubt about that. I don't want to run away from that. Some of it has to do with racial issues, it's very obvious. I think sport has historically been a platform for people to talk about these issues directly. I don't think we should run away from them, and I think players are happy to address these issues. They're sophisticated people.”
Clark was one of 14 players invited to USA Basketball's final pre-Olympic training camp in April, but was unable to attend due to the team's Final Four matchup against Iowa. Attending training camp is not required for selection, but it typically influences the selection committee's roster decision. Clarke has previously represented her country in several youth tournaments.
The United States has won a gold medal in women's basketball at every Olympic Games since 1996 and will likely be dominant again this time. The U.S. basketball team will face Japan in the Olympic opening game on July 29, with the gold medal game scheduled for Aug. 11.
