US Olympics CEO gets painfully honest on WNBA star Caitlin Clark snub

US Olympics and Paralympics Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland does not buy the narrative that Caitlin Clark was “snubbed” by not being selected for Team USA.

The WNBA has sent some of its brightest stars to represent the USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, they had limited roster spots and could not send everyone. Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is one of those players who did not make the cut for Team USA.

Many WNBA fans were furious about the decision, which has been ferociously defended by those involved with Team USA. However, not everyone is convinced that Clark should have been allowed to join Team USA.

US Olympics and Paralympics Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland was recently asked about the Clark decision in a recent interview on the Bloomberg Business of Sports Podcast.

Hirshland circled the wagons and backed up the decisions of Team USA.

“When you look at the whole thing in totality, I would say USA Basketball has had a very disciplined process with people who know more about the sport of women’s basketball than anyone else in the world,” Hirshland said. “And I trust that they know exactly what they’re doing.”

WNBA fans want Clark to be on Team USA for a couple of reasons. One big reason is to bring increased popularity to Team USA, harnessing Clark’s ability to boost ratings for the good of the team. This would have likely happened even if Clark played a bit role and only had a few minutes on the court.

However, Hirschland and Team USA are trusting their process. It does seem smart to not step on anyone’s toes by letting Clark “jump the line” or get special treatment.

Thankfully for WNBA fans, Clark is only 22 years old. We will have plenty of time to watch her compete in the Olympics throughout her career.