"It is indefensible at this point": Joe Pompliano blasts Caitlin Clark's Olympic snub after she rises 3rd in MVP odds with 19-assist game

Caitlin Clark's Olympics snub made its way back to headlines again after the Indiana Fever rookie's WNBA record 19 assists in a single game. The former Iowa Hawkeyes guard showcased her playmaking skills as she notched up 19 assists against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday (July 17). The effort saw her WNBA MVP odds rise, and Joe Pompliano slammed the decision to leave Clark out of the Olympics.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pompliano called the decision "indefensible" after the Fever star's staggering numbers.

"Caitlin Clark now has the third-best odds to win WNBA MVP after setting a league record with 19 assists in a single game. The decision to keep her off the Olympic team is indefensible at this point."

In a follow-up post, he added that Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson would bag her third MVP honors. According to the investor, Clark's game and her burgeoning popularity were key reasons why she deserved to be on the Olympics roster.

Since her Olympics snub, Clark has upped her game. In the 11 games before the roster announcement, she averaged 15.6 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 29.7 from beyond the arc. In the 13 games that followed before the Wings matchup, she averaged 17.9 points and 9.1 assists while shooting an improved 44.4 overall and 37.7 from downtown.

On Wednesday, she recorded 24 points to go with her 19 assists, but the Wings managed to hang to their lead and beat the Fever 101-93.

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Caitlin Clark had a modest response when asked about her record-breaking assists game

Soon after the landmark assists game, Caitlin Clark fielded questions postgame and her response was modest. When asked about the mammoth effort, she kept the response simple.

"I just try to set my teammates up for success. I think at times I can almost over-pass, and there could have been a few times that instead of passes that lead to turnovers, I can probably shoot the ball."

While turnovers have been an issue for Clark this season (she had six against Dallas), her precision in assists and her ability to shoot at a healthy clip put the TO flaw on the back burner. She has already exceeded expectations in her rookie year, and there will be time to address her shortcomings in the seasons to come.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are still looking for a playoff berth this season. The latest loss pegs them 11-15 but keeps them seventh overall in the WNBA standings. Only time will tell if they can make the postseason.