Leaving Indiana Fever rookie phenom Caitlin Clark off the women’s U.S. Olympic basketball team roster was one of the more controversial sports decisions of the summer.

However, head coach Cheryl Reeve says that despite the media not letting the decision go, her players have buckled down and tuned out the outside noise regarding Clark’s perceived snub to make it reach the gold-medal game of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday.

“Honestly, [the players] don’t think about it as much as we all talk about it because they weren’t a part of all those (decisions), so that’s not on their mind” Reeve told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Their mind is on this journey and their mission to win a gold medal. Sure, they hear the talk [about Clark], but it’s not something they walk around thinking about.”

Jul 20, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Team WNBA guard Caitlin Clark (center) defends against USA Women’s National Team guard Sabrina Ionescu (6) during the 2024 WNBA All Star Game at Footprint Center.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Team USA has seen a fair share of criticism for low television ratings and poor attendance numbers this Olympic go-around — numbers seemingly everyone is convinced would be higher had Clark made the team.

The 22-year-old WNBA Rookie of the Year front-runner’s popularity is so vast and her star-status has reached global levels as evidenced by the fans who recently went viral for wearing Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes jersey during the USA’s 87-68 win over Germany in their final matchup of group play last Sunday.

Team USA extended its Olympic win streak to 60 games with its 85-64 win over Australia on Friday (the team hasn’t lost to an Olympic opponent since the 1992 Games), proving it doesn’t necessarily need Clark to be dominant.

However, it’s clear there would be much more fanfare had the rookie point guard made the team.