The U.S. 3×3 women's basketball team suffered two injuries this week, but the WNBA's newest sensation won't be coming to the rescue.
Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink and 2022 WNBA No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard joined Sierra Burdick and Hailey Van Lith on the 3×3 team for the Paris 2024 Olympics, but injuries will force Team USA to reshuffle its roster.
Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, tore her anterior cruciate ligament during the Sparks' loss to the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night. She will miss the Paris Olympics and the remainder of the WNBA season.
Howard left the Atlanta Dream's loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday with an apparent ankle injury, and she is scheduled to undergo further evaluation on Thursday.
With two injuries to the 3×3 team, many eyes are on Caitlin Clark.
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick was not selected for the U.S. women's basketball team in Paris, which will be seeking its eighth consecutive gold medal, but injuries to Brink and Howard have many questioning whether Clark will make it to the Olympics after all.
Clark's eligibility and status for the 2024 Paris Olympics are as follows:
Will Caitlin Clark compete in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Olympics?
Clark is ineligible to make Team USA's 3×3 women's basketball team.
When assembling an Olympic 3×3 roster, the following FIBA player eligibility criteria will be required:
- Two players ranked in the top 10 in the country
- Two players who are ranked in the top 50 in their national rankings or have a minimum number of ranking points
To earn ranking points, players must compete in other 3×3 competitions. Clarke has never competed in a 3×3 competition and therefore is not eligible as a roster candidate.
Who will replace Cameron Brink on Team USA?
Megan L. Hall of USA Today compiled a list of 16 American players currently ranked in the top 250 in FIBA's 3×3 ranking system and pointed to Dearica Hamby, Brink's teammate on the Sparks, as the leading replacement candidate.
Olympic 3×3 Basketball Qualification
In addition to FIBA points, players must meet the following nationality criteria to participate in the Olympic 3×3 competition:
- Hold legal citizenship of the country being represented
- You must present the representative country's passport issued by the competent authority by the date to be announced.
- Has never played for another country on a national basketball and/or 3×3 team in official FIBA competition.
- You must be 18 years of age or older as of July 26, 2024.
Sparks rookie Cameron Brink spoke one-on-one with WNBA reporter Christina Williams about her selection to Team USA's 3×3 women's basketball team that will compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
