Candace Parker Was Original Team USA Olympics Basketball Snub
Though it may have received the most attention, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark's omission from the Team USA roster was not the first notable snub in women's Olympic basketball history. In fact, Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale took issue with the selection process just recently. That is before she joined Clark in torching the team playing in Paris during the record-setting WNBA All-Star Game. However, the "politics" of how the roster is chosen go back to at least Candace Parker.
Parker was not selected in 2016, to some controversy at the time. It's not as if Candace wasn't familiar with the program then either. She had been a member of the squad in 2012, leading the team in rebounds and blocks en route to a gold medal. Still, despite her longstanding participation with Team USA, Parker was not chosen to go to Rio in '16. She did however win WNBA Finals MVP that same year.
The reasoning given for the snub was that she played a position of strength, according to the national team director at the time. But Parker believes the real reason was a beef with UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who was the coach of Team USA then. She had this to say to Taylor Rooks in a 2021 interview. "I don't think I personally fit, I don't think Geno Auriemma wanted me on the team. I think it is one of those things where it's like cool, like just tell me and then don't beat around the bush." She then declined invites to training camp in the years following.
Parker has campaigned for more than herself when it comes to being part of the Olympics as well. Candace spoke up on behalf of Nneka Ogwumike before the 2021 games in Tokyo. She had this to say after a WNBA contest that year. "How many times are we going to say it's not politics? Like, I think we all know that...I hit Nneka. I was like...You're one of the greatest. You're the only MVP not to make an Olympic team, which is bulls***."
So, Cheryl Reeve is not the first coach who has been questioned about a notable Olympics omission. And the recent All-Star team is not the first group of players who provided more competition than Team USA has seen overseas. Just ask Candace.
ROBIN LUNDBERG
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his burgeoning YouTube show. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak on SI!