The Paris Summer Olympics are in full swing, with Team USA is already racking up a host of medals. And now, WNBA legend Dawn Staley says that rookie Caitlin Clark’s recent performances on the court could have placed her in the conversation for a spot on the women’s basketball team.
During an interview with NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico on Sunday, July 28, Staley — a member of the USA Basketball women’s national team committee — spoke about the highly publicized exclusion of Clark from Team USA, and noted that 22-year-old athlete’s current playing performance was different at the time the team was decided.
“As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players, the best talent,” Staley said, per NBC Sports. “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now.”
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“If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people,” Staley continued. “Shooting the ball extremely well, I mean she is an elite passer, she’s just got a great basketball IQ, and she’s a little more seasoned in the pro game than she was two months ago.”
Back in June, Clark said that she was not disappointed to be left off of Team USA. While speaking to ESPN and other reporters following practice on June 9, the Indiana Fever guard Clark said, “I’m excited for the girls that are on the team.”
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“I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way — me being on the team or me not being on the team. I’m going to be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, so it will be fun to watch them,” Clark added, per the outlet.
“Honestly, no disappointment. It just gives me something to work for; it’s a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully when four years comes back around, I can be there,” Clark continued.
The women’s Team USA basketball team, meanwhile, is scheduled to play against Japan on Monday, July 29 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. The team, which is hoping to win its eighth consecutive gold during the Games, includes fellow WNBA players A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
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