The USA Basketball’s decision to snub Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark from the Olympic squad didn’t go down well with hoops fans. The decision-makers who selected the 12-member roster for the upcoming Summer Games in Paris were slammed by a certain section of fans and pundits.
Ted Cruz slams Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub after record-breaking WNBA game.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz launched a vicious attack on USA Basketball for not picking Caitlin Clark in the Olympic squad. Cruz’s reaction came after Indiana Fever’s WNBA game against the Chicago Sky shattered viewership records on June 16.
The game which featured Clark and Angel Reese in action at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis became the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. The game peaked with nearly 3 million viewers and averaged over 2.5 million viewers.
Reacting to the record-shattering game that featured Clark, Cruz lambasted the USA Basketball, calling the decision-makers “imbeciles.”
“And yet these imbeciles don’t want her on the Olympic team,” Ted Cruz said in a tweet on X.
Clark’s arrival in the WNBA has led to a massive surge in the league’s popularity. The viewership and in-area attendance have sky-rocketed significantly.
On Wednesday, Fever’s game against the Mystics was once again a sellout. The Gainbridge Fieldhouse arena recorded an attendance of 17,274. It was the eighth consecutive game with 15,000+ fans in attendance in Indiana.
The main reason Cruz and other basketball fans have criticized USA Basketball for snubbing Clark from the Olympic squad is because of her potential to boost viewership for basketball at the Summer Games.
USA women’s basketball squad for Paris Olympics
USA Basketball selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti affirmed that the Olympic squad was selected based on talent and keeping in mind the team composition. Rizzotti revealed that the viewership factor was not considered while selecting the 12-player roster.
“It would be irresponsible for us to talk about her in a way other than how she would impact the play of the team,” Rizzotti said.
“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),” she added.
A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi headline the USA women’s squad for the Olympics.
USA women’s basketball squad for Olympics: A’ja Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner, Chelsea Gray, Diana Taurasi, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd, Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Plum, Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu
The controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark’s exclusion from the USA Basketball Olympic squad has sparked a heated debate among fans and critics alike. Many believe that her electrifying performance in the WNBA should have earned her a spot on the prestigious team.
Despite the criticism, USA Basketball has stood by their decision, emphasizing that the selection was based solely on talent and team dynamics. While Clark’s popularity and ability to draw in viewers cannot be denied, the committee chose to prioritize the team’s performance on the court.
As the Summer Games in Paris approach, all eyes will be on the women’s basketball team as they aim for gold. The absence of Caitlin Clark may be a point of contention, but the focus must now shift to supporting the chosen players as they represent the United States on the world stage.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
