Caitlin Clark has broken records left and right in her collegiate career. However, her spot in the national team roster is not yet guaranteed. Clark’s early performance in the WNBA will decide her spot on the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team.
The Olympic roster for the Paris Games won’t be finalized until June 1st. Clark missed the U.S. training camp earlier this month due to her NCAA Final Four with Iowa. The U.S. women’s basketball selection committee will see her WNBA debut performance to determine whether or not she will be selected for the team.
“You always want to introduce new players into the pool, whether for now or the future,” said selection committee chairwoman Jennifer Rizzotti to AP. “We stick to our principles of talent, obviously, positional fit, loyalty, and experience. It’s got to be a combination of an entire body of work. It’s still not going to be fair to some people.”
Although it was not mandatory, Clark’s presence at the Cleveland training camp could have been beneficial in showcasing her skills against top-tier players. However, her performance in the WNBA will be closely observed as it will determine her place in the Olympic roster.
Caitlin Clark’s entry boosts ticket sales before her Indiana debut
Caitlin Clark is set to make her WNBA debut on May 3 when the Indiana Fever, who drafted her as the top pick last week, play their first preseason game in Texas.
Laura Correnti, founder and CEO of Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment, shared insights on Clark’s impact. “When Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA draft, we saw a significant rise in the Indiana Fever’s ticket prices,” Correnti mentioned on Morning Edition recently. This transfer reflects the anticipation surrounding Clark’s debut, driving up ticket sales across the league and prompting near sellouts in various cities when she plays.
The excitement to watch Clark in action has led to a hike in ticket prices and has indicated that teams should move games to larger venues due to the high demand.
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