Page 49 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 138

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #138 July 2024 49

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Stories And More About The People In Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry
Caitlin Clarke, recently graduated from University, is regarded as one of the greatest

basketball players of all time. She was recently and controversially left off the U.S.A.

Olympic basketball team. Do you agree with this decision?

Jake Lapierre - Conditioning Coach - There’s absolutely no doubt that the arrival of Caitlin Clark into the WNBA has elevated
the awareness and popularity of women’s basketball far beyond expectations, and networks are drooling over the number
of people tuning in to watch WNBA basketball. The Indiana Fever selected Clark, who broke the all-time NCAA Division 1
scoring record for any gender at Iowa, and Caitlins talent on the court has quickly made her a well-known figure in basketball
circles across the US and beyond. Controversy and debate erupted throughout media venues regarding Ms. Clark not being
selected to the 2024 USA Paris Olympic women’s basketball squad. The task of selecting the roster for the U.S.A. Olympic
women’s basketball team is delegated to a selection committee whose role is to ensure the players selected have the best chance of bringing
home an Olympic gold medal. Network commentators point out that not choosing Caitlin might affect ratings and revenues, while others
debate the best athletes were chosen and given the opportunity to represent their country.
Personally, I have to agree with the committees selection based on the talent and experience of the athletes chosen (but it’s certain Caitlin was
given serious consideration). These athletes deserve the opportunity to represent their country.
There is no doubt Ms. Clark is on her way to WNBA stardom; she will certainly have many opportunities to compete and lead teams to
Olympic gold. For now, I’m looking forward to the Paris summer Olympics.

Jim Riddell - Seaway Karate Club - Caitlin Clark’s exceptional NCAA basketball career with the University of Iowa Hawkeye’s
has made her the face of the WNBA as soon as she was drafted First overall by the Indiana Fever. Clarke’s NIL (name, image
and likeness) endorsement’s have also helped her popularity to soar. She has deals with eleven companies presently, including
Nike,Gatorade, State Farm and Buick. Her presence in the WNBA has taken viewer ratings, attendance and merchandising
to much higher levels. Was leaving Caitlin Clark off the USA Olympic team the right call? Since woman’s basketball made its
debut at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal Team USA has competed in eleven Summer Games, winning Gold 9 times, Silver and
Bronze once each. The Americans have a loaded team that has been playing together and are all familiar with the team system. The twelve
ladies chosen to represent the USA already have a combined total of fifteen Olympic Gold medals between them. Clark did not attend the
Olympic team tryouts as she was playing with the Hawkeye’s in the Final Four tournament. Clark’s transition to the pro game is also taking
a bit of time, she is putting up plenty of points, but has given up a high number of turnovers and has been struggling with the more physical
play. Once she gains experience Caitlin Clark will become one of the best players in the WNBA and will be a member of future USA Olympic
teams. As for the 2024 Olympics, the proper decision was made.

Peter Collins - Sports Enthusiast - There’s no doubt if making the Olympic team based on star power, Caitlin Clark would be
a shoe-in. However, the U.S. Olympic team has been preparing and practicing since February of 2022 for this year’s Olympics
in Paris. Basketball, like most team sports, relies heavily on chemistry, and while Caitlin is a great player, she’s not the missing
element on the team. Caitlin is having a good rookie season in the WNBA, but as expected she’s not dominating like she did
on the college scene. At twenty-two years old, her game needs time to mature and adjust to the higher level of competition.
In college she dominated, averaging over thirty points per game as well as almost nine assists per contest. In the pros, she’s

ranked sixteenth with sixteen points per game, while contributing six assists per game. There’s little doubt that within the next year or two,
she will dominate the pros like she did in college. If everything goes as planned Caitlin will be making her Olympic debut in Los Angeles four
years from now. No doubt there will be almost unimaginable excitement surrounding her debut, and her being left of the Paris team will be
forgotten.