One of the bigger stories in the 2024 WNBA season was Caitlin Clark being snubbed of a roster spot on Team USA in the 5-on-5 event in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. But it turns out, Clark did have a chance to compete in the Olympic Games if she wanted to.
No, Clark wasn’t named to the roster for the 5-on-5 team. But according to Christine Brennan, a sports columnist for USA Today, who recently published a book about Clark, the Fever star was actually asked to compete for Team USA on their 3-on-3 team, which she respectfully declined.
Once Clark turned down the opportunity, it was ultimately Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, and Hailey Van Lith, who made up the Team USA 3-on-3 team, which ended up with a bronze medal.
Obviously, had Clark participated on the team, there is at least a possibility that Team USA could have finished with better than a bronze medal. Not to mention the fact that Clark may perhaps have grown into an even bigger star than she is currently had she competed.
This revelation predictably led to plenty of comments from fans of Clark, who were wondering how things could potentially be different had Clark decided to compete.
Fortunately, Clark will undoubtedly be a key fixture on Team USA in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where she will see where her skills stack compared to the rest of the world.