Like every thing else Caitlin Clark related, the choice not to incorporate her on this summer’s Olympic roster has created controversy and debate.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin briefly weighed in on Monday during an appearance on the nationally syndicated radio talk show, the “Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.”
Youngkin is a former college basketball player having played 4 years at Rice within the Eighties and was asked about Clark’s snubbing from the Olympic squad that will likely be headed to Paris next month.
The sitting governor called the choice “really crazy” and sung Clark’s praises.
“At the top of the day, no one can deny the incontrovertible fact that she has completely transformed fans’ interest and enthusiasm for girls’s basketball,” Youngkin said.
The Virginia governor used the instance of a recent game between the Mystics and the Clark-led Fever in nearby Washington D.C., when the sport drew a lot interest that they moved it to twenty,000-seat Capital One Arena, where it sold out.
Capital One Arena is home to the NBA’s Wizards.
The Mystics typically play within the 4,200-seat Entertainment and Sports Arena.
“Caitlin Clark involves town and so they move [the game] to the Capital One which seats 20,000 people and so they sell it out. Let me be honest the Wizards weren’t selling out, in order that’s all Caitlin Clark,” Youngkin said. “She deserves a spot on the team. This isn’t a knock against any of the opposite players, they’re all fabulous players. But there have been rookies who’ve made the Olympic team before. Diana Taurasi made it and Candace Parker made it as rookies.
“She will make it as a rookie. She is transforming women’s basketball and he or she must have a spot on the team.”
Clark was limited to only 10 points within the Fever’s loss to the Sun on Monday, when she recorded her fourth fewest points of the season and shot just 3-for-8 from the sector.
Clark took the high road over the weekend when she was asked about not being picked for the Olympic roster, saying she was “excited” for many who made the team.
“Truthfully, no disappointment,” Clark said. “I believe it just gives you something to work for. It’s a dream, hopefully someday I might be there. I believe it’s just somewhat bit more motivation. You do not forget that and hopefully when 4 years comes back around, I might be there.”
