Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA No. 1 overall pick, has been a subject of controversy due to her exclusion from the US Olympic team and ongoing discussions about race and gender in basketball.
According to multiple sources, including Fox News and Deadline.com, Clark has faced criticism for her popularity and race throughout her career. Despite this, she remains focused on basketball.
Fox News reported that Wilson expressed her opinion that Clark's popularity is partly due to her being White. However, Becky Hammon seemed to disagree with this statement.
Deadline.com shared that Clark has spoken out against people using her name to push racist and misogynistic agendas. She grew up admiring the WNBA players and considers basketball as her job.
Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, expressed his disappointment about not seeing Clark play in the Olympics despite her impressive performance in the WNBA. The selection committee's mandate was to field the best possible team for Team USA to compete at an international level.
The debate around Clark's exclusion from the Olympic roster continues, with some experts arguing that it was a mistake and others supporting the decision based on experience and continuity.
Clark averages 16.3 points and 6.0 assists per game in the WNBA, making her an essential player for Indiana Fever and Mystics.