When Stephen A. Smith said, “It was a stupid decision,” regarding Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, he perhaps echoed the sentiment of thousands. Coming off a historic college run, as the all-time leading scorer of the NCAA, her spot on the roster was all but given. But the selection committee did not believe so. They were aiming for more than just drawing eyes to the team. But was that really the only reason? Columnist Christine Brennan believes the selection committee’s decision involved Clark’s fans themselves.
“It would be irresponsible for us to talk about her [Clark] in a way other than how she would impact the play of the team,” Jennifer Rizzoti had said, explaining her decision not to include Clark in the team. “Because it wasn’t the purview of our committee to decide how many people would watch or how many people would root for the U.S. It was our purview to create the best team we could for Cheryl [Reeve].”
When the Olympic teams were announced, Clark was putting up 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds for the 3-9 Fever. However, her 70 turnovers up to that point gave some critics pause, raising questions about her ability to protect the ball under the bright lights of the sport’s biggest stage. Let’s not forget, Clark had barely caught a break up until that point. After a grueling college season that took her all the way to the championship game, getting some time to rest was probably more than well deserved.
It’s worth noting that Team USA has almost always included at least two players under 25 on every Olympic roster since women’s basketball debuted at the 1976 Montreal Games. And with the exception of 2012, they usually bring in the No. 1 pick from that year—think Diana Taurasi in 2004, Candace Parker in 2008, and Breanna Stewart in 2016. So why was Caitlin Clark left out? According to columnist Christine Brennan, author of On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports, there’s more to the story than what meets the eye.
On the Robin Lundberg Show, Brennan revealed what might be the real reason for Clark’s snub. “I talked to two veterans of women’s basketball. I happened to bump into both of them at a game within a couple hours of each other, independent of each other, right around the time that the decision was being made about the Olympics and whether Caitlin Clark would be on the team. And I said, ‘What do you think, Caitlin Clark? You know, she could make the Olympic team or not?’ ‘Oh, no. No,’ shaking their head. ‘No. What do you mean? Why? What? Like why?’ And they said, ‘Well, because her fan base wouldn’t understand. And we don’t want them to all get mad at you know, if she only plays a few minutes in the game.’”
If true, this claim paints a surprising picture of the selection process. Caitlin Clark might have been left off the Olympic roster not because of her skills, but because of what the fans might think. Sure, Clark likely would have come off the bench behind guards like Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd. And yes, everyone knows about the massive fanbase she has built thanks to her record-breaking impact. “She’s the biggest thing in sports, not just women’s basketball in the United States,” Brennan said in a CNN column. “I mean, literally very, very likely the best-known athlete in the country right now.” And the numbers showed that!
Her regular-season games drew an average of 1.2 million viewers–199% more than when she wasn’t on the court. Indiana Fever ticket sales have skyrocketed from 227,979 in 2023 to a whopping 643,343 in 2024. And it’s not just Indiana—the league as a whole has seen attendance jump 44%, hitting heights not seen since the late ’90s. So yes, fans getting upset over limited minutes is understandable. We saw the backlash even Steve Kerr faced after Jason Tatum was being benched on the same stage. Multiply that into 10s or more, that’s the response CC would receive for something that’s inevitable on a star-studded roster.
Jul 9, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Nonetheless, Team USA went on to win the gold medal without breaking a sweat, but Caitlin? She came back from the Olympic snub completely transformed. Coach Sides revealed how Clark channeled that rejection into pure determination. “The thing she said was, ‘Hey, Coach, they woke a monster,’ which I thought was awesome,” Sides said. “She’s young, she’s going to have so many opportunities in the future.” And a monster she became! Clark finished the regular season averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists, leading the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016. That’s how you turn rejection into fuel to become even better!
But this wasn’t the only controversy Brennan had raised about Clark’s Olympic snub. Here’s what she had to say!
Brennan had more to say about Caitlin Clark’s snub
Brennan wasn’t too happy when Diana Taurasi, at 42, was chosen to play what would be her final Olympics instead of Caitlin Clark. Many found the decision puzzling, but Brennan was especially critical. In a CNN column published by Matias Grez, she wrote, “Her stats are better than Diana Taurasi, who will be on the team for her sixth run at an Olympic gold medal, and so the bottom line is she brings eyeballs.”
That, for sure, raised eyebrows. Diana Taurasi’s inclusion is even harder to justify given she was averaging 16.6 points on 37.1% shooting, along with fewer rebounds, assists, and steals per game than Caitlin Clark. So what was the real basis for her selection? Likely, it came down to seniority and legacy. Taurasi has been representing Team USA since 2004, and perhaps this was the committee’s way of sending her off with the ultimate send-off for her incredible career.
Unfortunately, that decision cost Caitlin Clark her spot on the main Olympic team. She was offered a chance to play for the USA 3×3 basketball squad instead, but she chose to pass, focusing on her work with the Indiana Fever. This controversy has sparked plenty of debate, and more insights will surely come out in the future. What are your thoughts on Brennan’s revelation?
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