Current Events > Team USA is getting criticism for not bringing Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark

(+) Yeah! (+)

to the Olympics. Apparently ratings for women's basketball was lower than it should have been. Because the 2 most interesting players were not there

https://www.outkick.com/sports/caitlin-clark-angel-reese-team-usa-olympic-tv-ratings

And people think this was a perfect chance to make Women's basketball in America explode in popularity. But they missed that opportunity

No rookies were selected and they won gold

Team USA won fuck the critics in 2028 those 2 can earn spots like the rest

SuperExcitebike posted...

No rookies were selected and they won gold

But not many people watched them win

Why tf would they bring Angel Reese?

lilORANG posted...

Why tf would they bring Angel Reese?

She's the other popular rookie

They won the gold medal wgas

Should have brought Clark and Brink

jefffan posted...

They won the gold medal wgas

The idea is to transform Olympics viewers into WNBA fans

As others said, they won gold. They did nothing wrong.

Charged151 posted...

As others said, they won gold. They did nothing wrong.

Read the article. That isn't what the criticism is about

SuperExcitebike posted...

No rookies were selected and they won gold

no rookies were selected this time

Zikten posted...

She's the other popular rookie

Yeah but she's not good enough to compete with the rest of Team USA.

They tried to send Cam Brink on the 3x3 team but she blew her ACL.

The Olympics (in my opinion) should be about showcasing a countries talent not advertising/ratings. If they were deemed "not good enough" to make the team this year then that's fine by me. If you view this past Olympics as a way to grow the sport then yeah they messed up big by not putting them on the team.

Zikten posted...

She's the other popular rookie

Why is she popular?

Taurasi averaging 1 point per game was ridiculous. She should not have been there.

accord posted...

Why is she popular?

She made it to the college championship last year. Caitlin was on the opposing team and they basically had a duel. Also, Angel's team actually won, despite Caitlin being the more popular player

accord posted...

Why is she popular?

Double doubles. Averaging 14/12 as a rookie is impressive

lilORANG posted...

Yeah but she's not good enough to compete with the rest of Team USA.

They tried to send Cam Brink on the 3x3 team but she blew her ACL.

Neither is Caitlin Clark thats why they werent chosen

CADE_FOSTER posted...

Neither is Caitlin Clark thats why they werent chosen

At the Paris Games, Taurasi averaged just 1.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 12 minutes per game.

I'm sure she could have done more with her 12 minutes than that.

So could Angel Reese whats your point no rookies ever that bronze in 2004 was the last time

"The US still won!" ain't the excuse you think it is. A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart probably could have won the gold by themselves

Clark leads the league in assists and Reese is 2nd in rebounds only to A'ja Wilson. They both absolutely should have been selected. Not only were they worthy of being on the team based on their play, but it would have been great for growing the popularity of the game to have them there. Taurasi's corpse being selected over them both was particularly shameful

Kyle1022 posted...

"The US still won!" ain't the excuse you think it is. A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart probably could have won the gold by themselves

Clark leads the league in assists and Reese is 2nd in rebounds only to A'ja Wilson. They both absolutely should have been selected. Not only were they worthy of being on the team based on their play, but it would have been great for growing the popularity of the game to have them there. Taurasi's corpse being selected over them both was particularly shameful

All this, especially the Taurasi point.

I agree that for their own interests they should've both been on the team, both for ratings and team quality purposes.

But the team won gold. Complaining that ratings would've been higher when the end result was a team that still won gold rings hollow to me.

But yeah, they should've both made the roster.

Nah they won end of topic

K181 posted...

But the team won gold. Complaining that ratings would've been higher when the end result was a team that still won gold rings hollow to me.

They were going to win gold regardless. Why wouldn't they promote their professional league back home by sending the two most popular players to the olympics? Especially when they deserved to be there based on their play

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

No

CADE_FOSTER posted...

Nah they won end of topic

See above

It's not about the gold medal. It's about after the Olympics. The article is saying they had a chance to increase fans of the WNBA.

you made a dumb bad topic and refuse to accept it, you'll be telling people they're wrong till the cows come home

never get trolled in your own bait topic man, ffs

Persona posted...

you made a dumb bad topic and refuse to accept it, you'll be telling people they're wrong till the cows come home

never get trolled in your own bait topic man, ffs

No, it's just that nobody is bothering to read rhe article. They keep arguing a point that the article isn't concerned with.

But I'm done. If you refuse to read the article, there is nothing I can do

Persona posted...

you made a dumb bad topic and refuse to accept it, you'll be telling people they're wrong till the cows come home

never get trolled in your own bait topic man, ffs

So sayeth the Raven to the Crow.

Can't grow a sport if nobody watches.

Clark will get her chance in the Olympics. Should she have been there? Yes. But if they wanted more experienced athletes that's fine.

TC is right.

Wnba players complain all the time nobody is watching.

Giving Clark and Reese attention increases eyes on the sport.

Once in a lifetime opportunity and they blew it.

creativerealms posted...

Clark will get her chance in the Olympics. Should she have been there? Yes. But if they wanted more experienced athletes that's fine.

Much like Biden hanging on too long, Diana taking the spot of better players for her own ego is a true negative. Biden at least knew when it was time to hang it up. Diana was there to get a 'record 6th Gold' and nothing more, and as evident by her stats, she rode their coat tails to that win.

creativerealms posted...

Clark will get her chance in the Olympics. Should she have been there? Yes. But if they wanted more experienced athletes that's fine.

They wanted a 42 year old past her prime.

That isn't a good excuse lmao.

lilORANG posted...

Why tf would they bring Angel Reese?

Why wouldn't they? I am not being sarcastic why would you think her being in would be that shocking

I'd also like to note that this is the first time in history that neither a rookie nor a second year player has been selected to the women's basketball team for the US. There was only one other time a rookie has not been selected to the team (2012). So this is only the second time that has happened.

The rookie class this year has repeatedly been described as once-in-a-generation. The two most popular players are rookies. For them to exclude rookies this year of all years, just seems like they are going out of their way to sabotage their own success.

Sorry, but when their stats back it up and when there is precedence for rookies making the team, you have no real argument that Clark and Reese should have been left out

If you look at the writer's other stories on this site you'll find that he is a trump slurper who helped spread the fake news story about Imane Khelif being male.

TC why should we give a fuck about what this piece of shit has to say?

If he cares so much about promoting women's sports why is he promoting dangerous slander about women athletes in the Olympics?

Using an outkick article is weird, extremely slanted reporting.

The article it self says ratings jumped once Americans woke up

Taurasi is the most winningest player in USA basketball period. She will always have a spot on USA teams if she wants it.

Neither Angel Nor Caitlin have had the chance to practice in Fiba basketball

You can't say that the best players should be on the team and then 42 year old diana tiarasi averages 1 point. And they're really speculating if she'll be back at age 46. Hohkay.

Kyle1022 posted...

just seems like they are going out of their way to sabotage their own success.

And then later will complain nobody will watch the wnba.

It's insanity

Anyways, it's clear that the rest of the international women are catching up. This may have been the last hurrah for usa women's basketball. I wouldn't be surprised if France returns the favor on American soil in 4 years.

Didn't Team USA get beat by the WNBA all star team, which had CC and Reese in there?

Edit: Also, ESPN already discussed how terrible of a move this was, too lol

What, do you want WNBA branding on every jersey, too?

i thought they should have gone, but ill be first to admit i was wrong

USA won Gold, haters be damned they obviously knew wtf they they were doing (the coaching staff, obv the players know how to play).

SauI_Goodman posted...

Anyways, it's clear that the rest of the international women are catching up. This may have been the last hurrah for usa women's basketball. I wouldn't be surprised if France returns the favor on American soil in 4 years.

The good news is, if they trot out Taurasi's corpse again, I'm pretty sure you can't score negative points per game. So she can't be much worse

SauI_Goodman posted...

You can't say that the best players should be on the team and then 42 year old diana tiarasi averages 1 point. And they're really speculating if she'll be back at age 46. Hohkay.

Again, she can do what she wants because shes the most winning player in USA basketball history.