Caitlin Clark could reject the invitation to join the Olympic team. What would prevent her from accepting the call?

USA Basketball selected 14 players to a training camp ahead of Paris 2024.
Caitlin Clark is the player of the moment. She has the NCAA record for most career points, is the top prospect for the 2024WNBADraft, earned a $5 million contract to join the BIG3, and, to top it all off, she was invited to the Olympic team training camp… but will be unable to attend.

On March 28, USA Basketball released the list of 14 players invited to the camp. The list contains nine Olympic players, eight of whom won gold medals in Tokyo 2020.

Diana Taurasi, the Olympic champion in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, stands out on the list. Ariel Atkins (2020), Chelsea Gray (2020), Brittney Griner (2016, 2020), Jewell Loyd (2020), Breanna Stewart (2016, 2020), and A’ja Wilson (2020) have already achieved Olympic success.

Atkins, Gray, Loyd, Plum, Stewart, Wilson, Shakira Austin, and Sabrina Ionescu won gold at the 2022 World Cup, while Plum and Jackie Young took part in the Tokyo 2020 3×3 competition.

Caitlin Clark’s Case
The Iowa Hawkeyes guard has received her first invitation to an Olympic training camp. Clark is not new to international competition, having won gold medals with youth teams, including a championship with the U19 team.

Although no woman has made the Olympic squad on her first try in 32 years, Clark’s selection would not be surprising given her lack of senior experience.

The difficulty is that the camp will take held in Cleveland, Ohio, from April 3-5. If all goes as Clark and the Hawkeyes anticipate, the team will play in

The NCAA Women’s Tournament Final Four will take place from April 5-7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

USA Basketball is aware of the women’s March Madness schedule and has stated that Clark’s invitation is contingent on Iowa’s advancement in the tournament.
The training camp will be led by Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. Here is the complete guest list. Reeve’s assistants will include Kara Lawson (Duke), Joni Taylor (Texas A&M), and Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics).
The Pierre Mauroy Stadium and Bercy Arena will host the women’s Olympic competition from July 28 to August 11.

The full roster of the US Olympic team is as follows:

• Ariel Atkins
• Shakira Austin
• Aliyah Boston
• Caitlin Clark
• Chelsea Gray
• Brittney Griner
• Rhyne Howard
• Sabrina Ionescu
• Jewell Loyd
• Kelsey Plum
• Breanna Stewart
• Diana Taurasi
• A’ja Wilson
• Jackie Young