Dawn Staley explains committee's decision to leave Caitlin Clark off Team USA for 2024 Olympics

Many were surprised to see Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark‘s name omitted from Team USA’s roster when it was released in June.

South Carolina women’s basketball coach and multi-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley, who is a member on Team USA’s selection committee, cleared the air on what went into the decision to choose other stars within the WNBA over the former Iowa star.

“As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together best teams of players, the best talent,” Staley said ahead of Team USA’s debut vs. Japan. “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA. Wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now.

“If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people. Shooting the ball extremely well, she is an elite passer. She’s just got a great basketball IQ and she’s a little more seasoned in the pro game in a couple of months than she was two months ago.”

The committee that selected the team comprises of Staley, Connecticut Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti, who is the chair of the committee, LSU assistant Seimone Augustus, Old Dominion coach Delisha Milton-Jones, Atlanta Dream GM Dan Padover and head of WNBA league operations Bethany Donaphin.

Clark was averaging 16.3 points, 6.0 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game when the Team USA roster was announced. At the All-Star break, she’s now averaging 17.1 points, 8.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Regardless of her improvements, many assumed rookies like Clark and Angel Reese would find themselves on the roster as they’ve been two of the most talked-about players in the WNBA this season and are now WNBA All-Stars. There’s a belief that if either would have been named to the team that more fans would tune into Team USA’s matchups in Paris.

According to Rizzotti, the thought process behind selecting players is based on a criteria, not popularity. Players selected over Clark have more experience, and checked more boxes she said, via the Associated Press. Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve’s input also factors into the final roster.

Ultimately, the committee decided on a team comprising of Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, Brittney Griner, A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Diana Taurasi, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu.

While they won’t be featuring Clark in this Olympic cycle, Team USA is still heavily favored to win gold in Paris. They opening matchup against Japan will air live at 3 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on Peacock.