The Olympics are about countries sending the best athletes from each sport to the competition in the hopes of bringing back a gold medal. For a majority of those disciplines, trials take place where each participant earns the right to represent their nation.
When it comes to basketball, it's a bit different. Instead of taking part in trials, a committee selects the Olympic rosters. That opens the door for a plethora of possibilities.
For Team USA women's basketball, Caitlin Clark was seen as a possible member of the squad competing at the Paris Olympics. Coming off a sensational collegiate career at Iowa, the Fever rookie boasted a strong resume and highlight reel — but not one good enough for her to be selected to the Olympics.
When Cameron Brink tore her ACL in a game with the Sparks, it left a hole on the USA 3x3 basketball squad. Brink, a gold medalist and MVP of the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Women's World Cup, was one of the four members selected to the Olympic squad, but now, the United States needs a replacement.
Clark is the name that fans are clamoring for to take her spot, but will she be at the Paris Olympics?
Here is more on why Clark is not eligible to play for the USA 3x3 basketball team.
BENDER: Leaving Caitlin Clark off the Olympic Team is a mistake that didn't need to happen
Is Caitlin Clark going to the Olympics?
As of now, Clark will not be heading to Paris to participate in the Olympics.
The Fever rookie was omitted from the 12-player roster for Team USA basketball. Considering her rise to fame stemming from her collegiate career, paired with her incredible talent on the court, Clark was viewed as a strong candidate to make the team. However, the USA Basketball Women's National Team Committee elected not to take Clark, going instead with a more veteran presence for the defending gold medalists.
Clark's name was never considered for the Olympic 3x3 women's basketball team, either. While some of her colleagues have also played the smaller court style, she never competed in that kind of competition on the international stage.
But when Brink tore her ACL ahead of the Paris Olympics, there was speculation that Clark would be one of the candidates to take her place. Team USA has not filled in the vacancy left by the Sparks rookie, but it certainly won't be Clark due to the fact that she is not eligible for the team.
Why is that the case? Here is more on the eligibility rules for 3x3 basketball at the Olympics.
MORE: Latest news about Cameron Brink's knee injury from loss to Sun
Olympic 3x3 basketball player eligibility rules
Countries competing in 3x3 at the Olympics have specific requirements for rosters.
The personnel must consist of the following:
- 2 players ranked within the top 10 of their country
- 2 players ranked within the top 50 of their country, or have the minimum number of ranking points
Players can earn points by competing in 3x3 events for their country, moving up the rankings in the process. Since Clark has not taken part in any of these competitions, she has not accumulated any points. Therefore, she does not fall into either of those categories.
In addition, athletes must comply with specific nationality criteria in order to compete for 3x3:
- They must hold legal nationality of the represented country
- They must have presented a passport of the represented country issued by the competent authorities before a date to be announced.
- They cannot have played for the national team in basketball and/or 3x3 for another country in an Official Competition of FIBA.
- They must be at least 18 years old on July 26, 2024.
