First overall WNBA draft pick Caitlin Clark did not make the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, contrary to an article shared online saying that Clark is competing in the 2024 Olympic games in Paris while American basketball star Brittney Griner is facing disqualification.
Renee Felton, a representative for USA Basketball, said in an email that it is “not accurate” that Clark will be competing for Team USA in the 2024 Olympic games. Felton has also previously told Reuters, opens new tab that Griner was not dismissed from the team.
Griner and Clark were among 14 players invited to an Olympic training camp in Cleveland, Ohio in April.
Griner was selected, opens new tab on June 11 for the 2024 Women’s National Team , opens new tabcompeting at the Olympic Games in Paris in July. Clark did not, opens new tab make the Olympic team.
“Honestly, no disappointment – it just gives me something to work for. It’s a dream, you know – hopefully one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation,” Clark told reporters, opens new tab on June 9. “Hopefully when four years comes back around, I can be there.”
One Facebook post, opens new tab says, “Breaking News: Caitlin Clark punches her ticket to the 2024 olympics, while Britney Griner faces disqualification. Details in the comments.” Another Facebook post, opens new tab says, “Team USA: ‘Britney Griner is OUT – Caitlin Clark is IN.”
Reuters Image
The posts link to, opens new tab websites, opens new tab that provide no sources for the information or satire disclaimers.
No such announcement appears on USA Basketball’s website, opens new tab or its social, opens new tab media, opens new tab accounts, opens new tab.
Griner’s profile is still listed on the USA Basketball website, opens new tab, which says she was selected for the 2024 Women’s National Team competing in the Olympic Games.
VERDICT
False. Caitlin Clark did not make the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team and Brittney Griner is not facing disqualification.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
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VIDEO: Social Media Lip Readers Reveal What A Pissed Off Caitlin Clark Yelled At The Ref After Questionable Foul Call
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has always been a fiery player on the court.
During the game against the Washington Mystics this week, she showed that fiery side during a play on offense.
Lip-readers think they uncovered what a clearly frustrated Caitlin Clark said during the matchup when Ariel Atkins fell backward into Aliyah Boston following Clark attempting to create space to receive the basketball.
Less than a week after Clark made history with the first-ever triple-double recorded by a rookie in WNBA history, the Indiana Fever star could be seen going off on a ref after she was called for a questionable foul.
Clark picked up an offensive foul for pushing off of a Mystics defender. However, as she walked back to her side of the court, Clark could be seen yelling at the referees about the call, as she appeared to tell them, “Don’t fall for that. No, you fell for it.”
She also called the opponent ‘soft.’
Clark ended the game with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, however, Indiana Fever lost to Washington 89-84, according to the New York Post.
The loss dropped the Fever to 9-14 on the year.
Caitlin Clark Battling Angel Reese For WNBA Rookie of the Year
Halfway through the WNBA season, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have already put together one of the greatest rookie campaigns in WNBA history.
Reese has recently gotten the Rookie of the Month Award for June and WNBA Player of the Week in Week 7.
Meanwhile, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark led all rookies in scoring (17.6 ppg), 3-pointers made (24), free throws made (42), assists (6.6 apg) and minutes played (33.0 mpg), per Yahoo Sports.
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“A’ja Wilson Is The Real Star Of The WNBA, Not The Well-marketed Person Caitlin Clark” Draymond Green Is Going Against The Majority When He “Ironically” People “Flatter” Rookie Clark Too Much
The WNBA — and women’s sports as a whole — continues to see a significant uprise in popularity with each passing year.
But no rookie draft class has brought as many eyes as the 2024 class has, thanks to players such as Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and, of course, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
While Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green didn’t hesitate to give Clark and the rookie class their flowers for bringing a new light to the W, he believes the WNBA could’ve done the same with A’ja Wilson years ago and missed its opportunity to market off the Las Vegas Aces center. “I ain’t saying Caitlin Clark is the best thing since sliced bread. Quite frankly, if you want my opinion, that’s A’ja Wilson,” Green said on his “The Draymond Green Show” podcast. “The best thing since sliced bread in the WNBA is A’ja Wilson. I’m not necessarily in the mindset that it’s all Caitlin Clark, no, A’ja Wilson is great. Aja Wilson to me is the American dream. Coming from a two-parent household, grew, got better, young Black girl, had everything against her, beat the odds to become what soon will be known as the greatest player to ever grace the WNBA. That’s quite honestly my opinion.
“I think Aja Wilson is as marketable as anybody in the WNBA, but you have to figure out how to market the product. So I’m not going to sit up here and act like Caitlin Clark ain’t done nothing for the WNBA. That’s bulls-t, yes she has. She’s going to continue to. No, I’m not in the assumption that it’s only her. I think y’all got a gold mine in the WNBA sitting right there, marketable as anybody in A’Ja Wilson and haven’t figured out how to make it go. Ain’t A’Ja fault. A’Ja got a lot about her that is as marketable as can be.”
Wilson, 27, was selected No. 1 overall by Las Vegas in the 2018 WNBA Draft after starring at South Carolina. She averages 20.1 points on 49.1-percent shooting, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 blocks in 195 games over seven seasons.
The 6-foot-4 big leads the league in several categories this season, including rebounds per game, 2-point field goals and 2-point field goal attempts.
She won Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has been crowned the WNBA MVP twice as well as earning Defensive Player of the Year in two consecutive seasons.
And the two-time WNBA champ and 2020 Olympic gold medalist has shown no signs of slowing down, either, as she is averaging 26.5 points on 48.4-percent shooting, with 12.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.8 blocks in six games this season.
As great as Wilson has been on all surfaces, six years after she entered the league, it has been Clark’s effect that has drawn in a nationwide audience with record-breaking viewership. Clark’s welcome to the WNBA hasn’t been smooth sailing. After going No. 1 overall to Indiana, the star rookie is averaging 15.6 points on 35.7-percent from the field and just 29.7 from 3-point range, with 5.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
But the headlines surrounding her have gone beyond her production. Clark has been roughed up by opposing vets and called out in social media posts questioning what she brings to the WNBA
And while Green believes the W missed its marketing opportunity with Wilson, the league certainly has Clark and several other rookies to thank for bringing new fans to tune in. And whether that’s to watch Wilson dominate in the paint or Clark’s sharpshooting – they’re still watching. And that’s a win for everyone.
