Caitlin Clark reportedly turned down Team USA’s last-minute Olympic offer

The decision to leave Caitlin Clark off Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics resulted in much outrage among fans. Many argued that Clark should’ve been part of the team, not only due to her performances on the court, but also because of the popularity she enjoys.

An excerpt from Christine Brennan’s new book “On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports” suggested that the Indiana star had been offered a spot on the US women’s 3x3 team instead but turned it down.

“Did Clark want to go to Paris on this U.S. team? The answer from Clark and her team was simple: No. She did not want to play 3x3 basketball at the Olympics,” Brennan wrote.

According to Brennan, it would’ve been a different conversation had the Fever guard been offered a spot on the 5x5 team instead.

"Something to work for": Caitlin Clark on being snubbed from Team USA's 5x5 team

Caitlin Clark wasn’t overly disappointed after being left off Team USA’s roster for the Paris Olympics. Instead, the Indiana Fever star viewed the snub as motivation and believes that not being selected gives her “something to work for.”

“It's a dream," Clark told reporters in June 2024. "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, I can be there."

Rather than sulking over the snub, Clark said she was looking forward to being a part of Team USA for the next Olympics.

She has taken another step forward in her second WNBA season, averaging 19.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game. Clark has led the Indiana Fever to seventh place in the standings at 6-7.

The team returns to the court on Tuesday to face the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena.

About the author

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a diverse range of topics. He is currently pursuing a BSc degree from BITS, but his love for video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism career. He relies on diligent research and fact-checking to deliver top-notch content. He has previously worked in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey began with Rockstar Games’ GTA franchise, specifically
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He strongly prefers multiplayer games, with FPS being his favorite genre, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! However, he also dabbles in open-world, story-based games from time to time. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West hold a soft spot in his heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type scenario.

Sameer makes sure to follow Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a game being played at the highest level can be highly educational. He derives inspiration from Tarik's meteoric rise to become one of the biggest FPS streamers in the world following the release of Valorant.

Outside of work, you can find Sameer playing football or cheering for FC Barcelona. He also likes to read and write poetry.

Know More

Edited by Ribin Peter