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Diana Taurasi has been under the spotlight over her selection for the USA Women's Olympic basketball team. By no means has the veteran's status on the team been questioned, however, some fans were left scratching their heads due to Caitlin Clark's reported absence from the roster.
The expected absence of the Indiana Fever rookie from the roster has led to quite a stir on social media. Fans started showing their disappointment, especially toward Diana Taurasi on X/Twitter:
"Diana Taurasi is 41 years old… how is she still on the team?"
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This follows a report by NBA insider Shams Charania, reporting that the USA women's basketball team will be dominated by veterans, with rookie Caitlin Clark likely being excluded.
Fans were not holding back from showcasing their disappointment toward the USA Women's Basketball Association, along with the USA Olympic committee, venting their frustrations over Clark's omission:
"Now no one gonna watch smh," a disappointed fan said.
"what an AWFUL decision," one fan commented.
"What yall doing US OLYPMPIC TEAM LEADERSHIP??" said another fan.
"Free her. WNBA doesn’t deserve CC," wrote another fan.
The rumored 12-player national team will reportedly consist of Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Alyssa Thomas, Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young, according to The Athletic.
This could be a pivotal moment as far as the women's game expanding its appeal and moving to the forefront at the highest level of international competition, the Olympics. It was an opportunity that some fans believed was missed by not selecting Caitlin Clark:
"Man golden opportunity missed to bring in more fans especially on a international level. She might not be the best player but she attracts Fans," said one fan.
"Great way to not grow women’s basketball," said another.
However, Taurasi, whose resume is essentially a list of WNBA records, is a legend, plain and simple. She has been the highest-scoring player in the league for most seasons and won three WNBA championships and Olympic gold medals in five consecutive editions (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020). However, Father Time is undefeated and the question will always remain that if Taurasi still has the legs to run with the best internationally.
Caitlin Clark leads the charge against Washington Mystics
Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark poured in 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead her Indiana Fever to a narrow 85-83 win over the winless Washington Mystics on Friday night.
Putting up a season-high 30 points Clark, the No. 1 overall pick displayed her offensive arsenal. She buried seven 3s, going 7-for-13 from 3-point range, including a huge step back 3 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that pushed Indiana's lead.
What do you make of Caitlin Clark's reported snub for the USA Women's Basketball team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
