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Caitlin Clark turned down the chance to play for USA's 3x3 team at the Paris Olympics before being left off the full women's roster, it has been revealed.
The WNBA sensation was controversially snubbed by Team USA boss Cheryl Reeve at last year's Olympic Games, despite her record-breaking college success with Iowa and strong start up in the big leagues with the Indiana Fever at the time.
Reeve's decision sparked outrage amongst fans who were adamant that Clark deserved to go to the French capital, where both the men's and women's teams claimed gold medals.
Yet according to reporter and author Christine Brennan, the Fever star did have the chance to go to the Olympics with the three-on-three team.
In her new book - titled 'On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports' - Brennan claims Clark rejected an offer to play for the 3x3 team 'well before June'.
USA officials made the offer knowing there was still a qualifying event she could play in to become eligible for the Olympics, having never played on a national 3x3 team, she explains.
Caitlin Clark reportedly declined the chance to play for USA's 3x3 team at the Paris Olympics
Clark was controversially left out of the women's national team, which captured gold in Paris
Instead of playing 3x3 basketball, Clark used the WNBA's mid-season break during the Olympics to recharge her batteries ahead of the second half of her rookie year.
After being snubbed for a place on the main roster, she said in June 2024: 'I'm excited for the girls that are on the team. I know it's the most competitive team in the world and I know it could've gone either way, me being on the team or me not being on the team.
'I'm excited for them, gonna be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, it'll be fun to watch them.
'Honestly, no disappointment. I think it just gives you something to work for. It's a dream, hopefully one day I can be there. I think it's just a little bit more motivation. You remember that and hopefully when four years comes back around, I can be there.'
Clark also revealed that she was already aware she hadn't been picked before the news broke.
'They called me and let me know before everything came out, which was really respectful of them and I appreciated that,' she continued.
'They did the same for every girl that made the team or every girl that didn't make the team. There's a lot of players in the Olympic pool, so it wasn't like I was the only one they had to call. They had to make quite a few calls.'
The Indiana Fever sensation has become the undisputed face of the WNBA over the past year
Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve has been blasted by sports columnist Christine Brennan
Brennan, who is not without controversy, has an upcoming book on Clark and her impact
A year on from her surprise decision, Reeve is facing calls to resign over her 'stunningly bad' conflict of interest involving Clark.
In a remarkable set of resurfaced tweets, highlighted by Brennan, the Team USA coach appeared to take aim at Caitlin, who has become the face of the WNBA in recent years.
In May 2024, Reeve appeared to take issue with the amount of TV time given to the Indiana rookie when she wrote 'The W is more than one player'.
'How on earth is that ok with the US Olympic and Paralympic community and the USA basketball team that its coach is actively tweeting and going on social media about someone who is in the selection pool?' Brennan said on The Adam Gold Show.
'Just stunningly bad behavior by Cheryl Reeve, tweeting at and about Caitlin Clark, kind of blaming her for not having Minnesota Lynx games on TV, but only Caitlin games on TV.'
