Caitlin Clark’s snub from Team USA’s Paris Olympics team sparks backlash

American sports fans are in meltdown after the biggest star in women’s basketball was snubbed from the Paris Olympics squad.

Caitlin Clark is arguably the biggest basketball name on the planet right now, but the rising women’s WNBA star won’t feature in the Paris Olympics.

Despite her dominance throughout her college career and into her rookie WNBA season, Clark was snubbed from Team USA for the upcoming Olympics.

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It was a decision that predictably got immediately torn to shreds on social media by the sports world.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy unloaded on X, calling it, “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard” after multiple reports filtered out that Clark had missed out on a spot in the 12-player roster.

“How dumb are these people?” Portnoy said. “Never complain about women salaries ever again. Make that team fly commercial. Unreal dumb.”

Portnoy further railed against the decision in a two-plus minute video rant.

“I’d rather watch grass grow, I’d rather watch paint dry. I’d rather watch dirt just be moved around because Caitlin Clark is not on the team,” he said.

“If she’s there, it’s appointment TV. You people, whoever did this, take your brain, put it in a museum and study it for how dumb you are.”

Clark wasn’t included in the 12-player squad. Luke Hales/Getty Images/AFP

Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd compared Clark to Christian Laettner, who was part of the 1992 Dream Team coming right out of college at Duke.

“Christian Laettner made the Dream Team. Caitlin Clark can’t make the women’s Olympic basketball team?” Cowherd wrote.

“What mostly pays for the Olympics — oh wait — revenue generated from broadcasting partners. As in TV. As in Caitlin is TV GOLD. Opportunity wasted.”

Justine Termine of Sirius XM pointed out how silly it is for a sport that is trying to grow to not have someone as popular as Clark.

“Even if she stinks, which she doesn’t, that’s horrible vision,” he posted.

US soccer legend Alexei Lalas had a rather blunt take on the decision.

“I don’t know enough about USA women’s Olympic basketball to know if Caitlin Clark’s omission is a snub. I do know that, right now, she would be the only reason I would remotely care about USA women’s Olympic basketball,” he wrote.

Michele Tafoya called it a “lost opportunity,” writing that it was a chance to not only grow the sport, but create interest. She went as far as to call the decision “detrimental” to the sport.

Clark has helped bring millions of eyeballs to the WNBA. Greg Fiume/Getty Images/AFP.

The news of Clark’s commission, which is not official yet, comes after her fantastic performance on Friday night.

She equalled a WNBA rookie record with seven 3-pointers for the Fever in front of the largest WNBA crowd in 17 years of 20,333 in Washington, D.C.

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who will coach Team USA this summer, reportedly wanted to go with a more veteran roster, according to reports.

She was critical during the pre-season of the WNBA’s heavy focus on Clark.

Five-time gold medallist Diana Taurasi was reportedly invited, along with Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner.

Olympic veterans such as Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray will also be on the team.

Clark’s absence, though, is the major story.

“I don’t know how you leave the country without her,” four-time Olympic gold medallist Lisa Leslie told The Sporting News in April.

Team USA’s decision-makers apparently found a way.

- with Zach Braziller, NY Post

Originally published as Caitlin Clark’s snub from Team USA’s Paris Olympics team sparks backlash