Japanese basketball fan trolls Team USA with Caitlin Clark sign at Olympic opener

Much was made of the absence of Caitlin Clark from the roster for Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. That narrative has now followed them across the pond to open group play on Monday.

Ahead of the matchup between the United States and Japan in Paris, a Japanese fan brought in and raised a sign that said ‘You need Caitlin Clark to beat us.’ It was enough to get the attention of the players as A’ja Wilson was pointing it out to Britney Griner and Alyssa Thomas.

Team USA 👀 a sign that reads, “You need Caitlin Clark to beat us.” USA-Japan tipping off shortly. pic.twitter.com/ymyJ6mSuXQ

— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) July 29, 2024

To be clear, the sign couldn’t have ended up less true. The United States dominated Japan with a 26-point win to open the group phase in a 102-76 victory.

Clark is one of the most famous basketball players in the world with how her last year has gone. She just completed her collegiate career at Iowa where she became the sport’s all-time leading scorer and led the Hawkeyes to consecutive appearances in the national championship. That then led to her being the obvious No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft.

Over her rookie season with the Indiana Fever, Clark has averaged 17.2 points, 8.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.6 turnovers in just over 35 minutes during her 26 games. She has done so while shooting 40.5% from the field and 32.7% from three. That was enough for her to be a WNBA All-Star in her first season as a pro.

Still, though, Team USA left off Clark from their final selections.

To be fair, choosing the players for the United States in basketball is a tough process. It’s a balance between selecting the best in the sport versus those who can play a role to make a more cohesive team. The overall spotlight and following that comes with Clark everywhere she goes only further complicated her candidacy.

Team USA expects to be just fine without Clark based on their dozen selections that are representing their country. Even so, it wasn’t going to be a story that just went away with this fan starting it again in their very first game from France.

Dawn Staley explains committee’s decision to leave Clark off Team USA

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

South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, a member of the selection committee, cleared the air on what went into the decision.

“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. 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. She’s a little more seasoned in the pro game in a couple of months than she was two months ago.”