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Caitlin Clark continues to make headlines in the WNBA, as the Indiana Fever star tied a rookie record by sinking seven 3-pointers and scoring 30 points in front of the largest WNBA crowd in 17 years. 

The game, held on Friday night in Washington, D.C., drew more than double the crowd compared to the Chicago Sky’s game in the same arena the night before.

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Caitlin Clark Sensation

The Fever’s victory was marked by the overwhelming presence of fans wearing Clark’s No. 22 jerseys. The 22-year-old sensation is becoming a pivotal figure in women's basketball, inspiring a new generation of players and fans. Since being the top pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, Clark has made an immediate impact on the league.

Clark, who was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for May, ranks fourth in the league in assists per game, 18th in points per game, and tied for third in three-pointers.

She has had a remarkable performance in her first 10 games. She scored over 150 points and achieved more than 50 rebounds and 50 assists. Her record matches only Sabrina Ionescu in WNBA history.

Olympic Snub

Despite her soaring popularity and impressive statistics, news broke on Friday that Clark has been left off the 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball roster. 

Concerns over her potential limited playing time on a star-studded roster supposedly influenced the decision. 

The U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team hasn’t lost a game since 1992. Despite their success, they often receive less media attention compared to other sports like gymnastics, swimming, and soccer.

Including Clark in the Olympic roster could have significantly boosted media interest and global attention towards women’s basketball.

Her huge fanbase and media appeal would have drawn reporters worldwide to cover the team’s journey. Selecting Clark would also recognize the growing popularity of college basketball, following precedents set by players like Christian Laettner, Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, and Breanna Stewart, who made U.S. Olympic teams while still in college.

“I don’t know how you leave the country without her,” four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie commented in April, emphasizing that Clark "one hundred percent" deserved a spot-on Team USA.

Chennedy Carter’s Foul Goes Viral

Adding to the buzz around Clark, an incident involving Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky went viral last week. 

During a game against Indiana, Carter blindsided Clark, resulting in a foul later upgraded to a Flagrant 1 by the league. In the league’s monitoring system accumulating enough flagrant points can lead to player suspensions.

When asked if Carter owed her an apology, Clark responded with grace. “You know, no, I mean basketball is competitive, I get it,” Clark said.

 “Sometimes your emotions get the best of you. Happened to me multiple times throughout the course of my career. People are competitive. It is what it is.” 

She also took the opportunity to praise Carter’s performance this season, acknowledging her significant contributions off the bench and noting her strong candidacy for Sixth Player of the Year.