Team USA’s latest performance at the Paris Olympics has left fans scratching their heads and muttering, “What if?” as they ponder the glaring omission of rising star Caitlin Clark from the roster. Sure, the seasoned vets were the safe pick, but let’s face it – no one brings the fire like Clark, who’s already lighting up the WNBA courts.
Despite Team USA dominating the group stages with a clean sweep and looking primed for gold, whispers abound about how Clark could have added that extra sparkle to the squad. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just the traditional five-on-five that’s under scrutiny. The real talk is about the 3×3 basketball team, which, let’s just say, didn’t quite live up to the hype with their bronze finish.
You see, according to NBA guru Brian Windhorst, getting Clark on the 3×3 team was a labyrinthine ordeal thanks to FIBA’s byzantine qualification process. “FIBA doesn’t really want the US to dominate 3×3,” Windhorst quipped on The Pat McAfee Show. “They want it to be the playground of countries that struggle with the full-court game. So, they set up a gauntlet of hoops to jump through – metaphorically, of course.”
Apparently, FIBA’s master plan is to give other nations a shot at glory, since the US pretty much owns the basketball court at every global event. Who knew basketball politics could be so… diplomatic? Imagine Clark weaving through defenders in a 3×3 game, the crowd going wild – but no, FIBA had other plans. The hoops Clark had to jump through (not to be confused with her slam-dunks) were just too many.
So, for now, the dream of seeing Clark tear it up in Olympic 3×3 remains just that – a dream. But fear not, basketball aficionados! LA 2028 is just around the corner, and you can bet your last free throw that Clark will be there, ready to set the court on fire.
In the meantime, we can only speculate on what might have been, while Team USA presumably polishes their medals and contemplates their next move. Stay tuned, folks – the Caitlin Clark Olympic saga is far from over.