Caitlin Clark not going to a Paris

Imagine the NBA with far fewer teams and Kobe and Kevin Garnett were still playing. Suddenly Jason Tatum and Luka Doncic come along and threaten the old guys' jobs.

The WNBA is a walking, talking PR decision making disaster. But given their dynamics, it's not all that surprising.

 

She shouldn't be... yet. She will be in 4 years, but isn't there yet. They had a great breakdown on ESPN radio yesterday of why this was the right hoops decision. They mentioned Mellow and Bron going to the olympics too early and how it hurt the team.

 

Without looking, they are probably holding out a spot for the first trans woman to compete for Team USA in the Olympics.

 

I’m sure whatever American TV network is covering the Olympics is pissed.

 

2nd article in the OP was objective and brought up good points.

Her prerogative but it would be nice to see Taurasi refuse the invite. She brings experience and leadership but how much is enough? Maybe step aside and let some younger players whose current performances on the court have surpassed hers. That doesn't necessarily mean Clark either as the article mentions.

Maybe a selfless act like that is too much to ask

 

Fact is, Clark is a shooter who plays point guard. They have 3-4 other points guards who are only slightly less effective shooters, equally good scorers, but much better point guards with more experience running offenses. Not even sure why we need this to be yet another faux controversy?

 

This was always a hilarious picture to me. This was our u16 team a few years ago against Venezuela's u16 team

 

I like the thought, but if it were me, I would assume the selfless choice to be that of accepting the invite. I think it is troublesome when players think they know better than their coaches. As a result, I would defer to the coach’s choice, even I personally believed that I wasnt good enough for the team. Further, turning it down could possibly result in further strife for the team, as the coaches might pick another veteran to replace her, reigniting the same debate over again.

 

Welcome the the thought process that led to the 2004 men's team loss. You put the best team out there regardless of marketability. Rare events happen. Which guard do you leave off the team where Clark improves the team?

 

Taurasi is the argument here, but it is pretty usual for dominant programs to keep a culture person as a bench player. See also people like Abby Wambach on the 2015 uswnt world cup team when she was past her prime or the 2020 Sue Bird inclusion . Kind of a risk mitigation strategy. Gives the coach a player to correct a lack of effort if it creeps into the play.

 

Clark is a great player but she's a volume shooter. Her percentages aren't anything amazing. I think she was top 20 in the NCAA last year percentage wise, and 2nd on her own team

She's crazy marketable, but she isn't a top 30 us player.

 

If Venezuela's team is so underfunded they have to borrow the El Salvadors team's jerseys, how much can one expect?

 

BTW, if she had pushed for it, she might have made the 3x3 team. That is what Sabrina Ionescu did last time when she was blocked off the main team (she is now on the main team). Apparently, we are taking fellow rookie Cameron Brink and former LSU guard Hailey Van Lith on that team (and current UF assistant coach/WNBA player Rhyne Howard). I do think Clark would improve that team if she had tried to join it and played some 3x3.

 

Good catch lol

 

It was both in 2004. The rest of the world caught up and the US mentality was one of inevitability regardless of who they selected and played. In 2008, we went right back to dominating (161 point differential in the group stages and no games with a single digit differential).

I don't doubt that NBC is pissed. I think they likely did mishandle this. She would be a killer 3x3 player. Replace the current college player with her and run out 3 of the next generation of stars in her, Howard, and Brink. If she was willing to do that, this is how she could have gotten to the Olympics.

 

Absolutely understand that angle but this will be her 6th Olympics? Just personal opinion but I just think it's time to bring on some younger players if they are worthy of it. Again, not saying Clark in particular.