Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark leads the WNBA in assists.
Caitlin Clark’s omission from the USA women’s basketball Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics was a hotly debated subject once the 12-member roster was announced. The USA Basketball’s decision to snub the Indiana Fever rookie received widespread backlash while a few hoops fans and pundits voiced their agreement.
The USA women’s team is gunning for a record eighth consecutive gold medal. Looking at the firepower and depth in the roster, Cheryl Reeve’s group is the prime contender to finish at the top of the podium.
Yet, there is a case to be made on why the Indiana Fever rookie should have been part of the 12-member roster for the Olympic Games.
Let’s take a closer look at three stats that show why Caitlin Clark deserved a place in the Olympic Team.
Top 3 Caitlin Clark stats
#1 A historic 5-game span ahead of the Olympics
The former Iowa superstar had a decent start to her professional career after being drafted No.1 earlier in the year. The point guard grew from strength to strength and finally hit her stride in July.
There is an eye-opening stat that shows Clark peaked with the Olympics were approaching. In her last five games before the break, the 22-year-old was on a tear in the WNBA, posting historical numbers.
Clark aggregated 109 points for the Fever before the WNBA All-Star Game. Apart from her scoring, the rookie was tremendous when it came to creating opportunities for her teammates. In five games, Clark registered 64 assists.
Clark became the first player to drop 100+ points and 60+ assists in a 5-game span in league history.
Furthermore, there have only been four instances when a player has aggregated 90 points and 50 assists in a 5-game span and Clark has done that three times herself. New York Liberty’s Courtney Vandersloot is the only other player to record the aforementioned numbers in a 5-game span.
If the rookie had been selected for the Olympics, she would have entered the quadrennial competition in peak form.
#2 Caitlin Clark’s phenomenal play-making skills
The Indiana Fever rookie’s ability to break down defenses with scintillating passes has been one of the premier storylines of this season. In her rookie season, Clark leads the league in assists and averages 8.2 assists per game.
Overall, the point guard has aggregated 213 assists so far this season. She is on course to obliterate the most assists by a rookie record which currently stands at 225.
#3 The viewership factor
The WNBA has seen a huge spike in viewership and in-game attendance this season. Caitlin Clark has had a big role to play in that. Through the best half of the season, the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis drew the largest crowd.
Indiana averaged 16,680 fans per game through the 10 home games before the All-Star Game and Olympic-enforced break. Clark’s presence in the Olympic team would have only brought more eyeballs to the women’s basketball event at the quadrennial competition.
