‘Politics’ decides WNBA All-Star and Team USA rosters, claims women’s basketball superstar

Team USA clarified that they assembled the best possible squad to contend for the Olympics.

‘Politics’ decides WNBA All-Star and Team USA rosters, claims women’s basketball superstar

WNBA superstar Arike Ogunbowale suggests players need to fit with others to be considered for a shot in Team USA roster

Team USA’s decision to omit Caitlin Clark from its Paris Olympics squad was met with a lot of blowbacks from fans and analysts alike. However, they came out with a clarification that they went for the best possible team to contend for gold. However, WNBA superstar Arike Ogunbowale suggested politics was at play.

The Dallas Wings star was recently a guest on Nightcap. When host Shannon Sharpe asked Ogunbowale about her omission from Team USA’s Olympics squad, she replied that the selection process involves trials throughout the year to assess compatibility with the team.

Honestly, when it comes to that stuff it really doesn't have much to do with your game. It's really about who they feel like fits with the team. So, I actually took my name out of the pool, like months ago. It's subjective who they think should be on the team. Everybody's great in the WNBA, so who they choose is who they choose.
Arike Ogunbowale said

She claimed that Team USA makes the decision based on fit and chemistry, more than who are the best players in the team. Ogunbowale revealed that she voluntarily withdrew her name from consideration months ago.

FS Video

The same goes for Caitlin Clark. Where the world wanted her to represent Team USA in Paris, the decision makers went with continuity and chemistry. Which is why, they selected players such as Chelsea Gray and Brittney Griner, who have missed much of the season so far.

Ogunbowale claims WNBA All-Star is also politics ridden

Co-host of Nightcap Chad Johnson asked the former Notre Dame superstar if she could talk about the politics side of decision making. She elaborated by saying that politics have always been a part of women’s basketball throughout her years in college and professional play.

When I think of women's basketball, and just how many years I've been playing college and pro. Politics has always surrounded it. Now whether that's USA basketball, whether that's All-Star teams. Whether that's first team and stuff like that, there's politics.
Arike Ogunbowale said

Ogunbowale claiming that politics dictates All-Star teams in the WNBA speaks a lot about how the sport is governed. The process of selecting All-Stars is based on votes. However, if Ogunbowale suggests that politics play a part in that, then it should be a matter of concern. It suggests the league makes decisions based on what they feel is right instead of what fans and players might want.

These insights certainly show that Caitlin Clark and Arike Ogunbowale have a long way to go for the decision makers to select them. Even though the logic of continuity and chemistry is not wrong, leaving out some of the best players is also a cause for concern.

In case you missed: