“It’s got to be a combination of an entire body of work.” Women’s National Team Committee chair Jennifer Rizzotti said after snubbing an emerging Caitlin Clark from the 2024 Olympics squad. Granted, Clark had played just 13 games for the 3-10 Fever, but her initial popularity was completely off the mark. Clark brought more eyes to the league than ever before, and many watched the WNBA only for Clark. Her initial numbers were also pretty impressive. While she had an impressive CV from her college ball days, the selection committee had made it clear that the jump from college basketball to international was too much. That decision has once again come into light, but this time, it’s about Cheryl Reeve, the USA Women’s Basketball coach’s role in her omission.
Christine Brennan was asked on a call with ESPN’s 99.9 the Fan Podcast who played a bigger role in Clark’s omission, USA Basketball or Cheryl Reeve. To which she said, “I think it was both, I mean, officially Cheryl Reeve was not on the selection committee, but she’s the coach of the team, right, so we weren’t born yesterday, you and I. Um, also just stunningly bad behavior by Cheryl Reeve tweeting at and about Caitlin Clark. Kind of blaming her for not having her games on you know, the Minnesota Lynx on TV, but only you know Caitlin games on TV.”
While Coach Reeve mentioned at the time that she played no role in Clark’s omission. “I took a lot of bullets for USA basketball,” She said while denying that she had any power to pick the players in the squad. However, in the same breath, Committee chair Rizzoti mentioned after announcing the team that the selections “sometimes came down to position, style of play for [coach] Cheryl [Reeve], and then sometimes a vote.” So we can safely assume that Reeve was involved at least in some capacity.
Just before the Olympic roster announcement, Cheryl Reeve appeared to blame Caitlin Clark on social media for less interest in the Lynx compared to the Fever. She reposted a WNBA promo for Indiana’s game and added: “ALSO in action tonight — @minnesotalynx vs @chicagosky 7 pm CST… #12teams #theWismorethanoneplayer.” When a user replied, “Because they only care about Caitlin,” Reeve responded, “That part.”
In 2024, 36 of the Indiana Fever’s 40 games were nationally televised, largely due to Caitlin Clark’s arrival. The Las Vegas Aces were close behind with 35 games, and the New York Liberty followed with 31. In comparison, the Minnesota Lynx had only 13 nationally televised games. The difference came down to one key factor: popularity. The Fever generated significantly more viewer demand than the Lynx, and none of that disparity was Clark’s fault.
I’m going to say it right now. @cbrennansports book is going to rock the WNBA world. She’s not playing WNBA politics, it’s just no feelings reporting.
Here she talks about Cheryl Reeves behavior leading up to the Olympics.
Full Video Here: https://t.co/l8BRlhl445 pic.twitter.com/luV7VWCzqz
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) June 17, 2025
While we can’t gauge how much Reeve controlled the selections, the fact that she was the coach and was throwing shade at the premier WNBA player while being involved in such a major decision does not fit right with Brennan. As Brennan further said, “How on earth is that okay with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA basketball that it’s coach is actively tweeting and going on social media about someone who is in the selection pool, I mean that alone should have been immediately nipped in the bud, never was it by the leadership of those organizations.”
After Cheryl Reeve’s comments about Caitlin Clark went viral, USA Basketball declined to elaborate. It simply repeated what Reeve had stated, that the head coach does not have a role in selecting the Olympic roster. Still, the notion that a national team coach might overlook a player with Clark’s impact, potentially due to personal bias, struck many as deeply troubling.
That early investment in Caitlin Clark has proven to be a game-changing decision for the WNBA. According to Sports Media Watch, before the 2024 season, no WNBA game had averaged more than one million viewers since 2008. In 2024, the league broke that barrier with 23 games reaching over one million viewers, and Clark appeared in all but three of them. Her impact has continued into her second season in 2025.
The Fever’s opener against the Sky averaged 2.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA regular season game in 25 years. Her comeback from injury also drew 2.2 million viewers, showing her consistent ability to captivate audiences. The league’s recognition of her influence from the start has certainly paid off.
Breanna Stewart Reflects on Her Reaction to Caitlin Clark’s Viral Logo Three
We come back from controversy to heartwarming moments in the W. Caitlin Clark went off on her return from quad injury, giving us one of the performances of the season. There were many highlight reel-worthy moments in her 32-point performance. This one with Breanna Stewart stood out. Clark hit a step-back logo three while Stewart was guarding her, and all Stewart could do was laugh at the unfolding greatness. Now, Stewart herself has reflected on that viral moment.
“I mean, in the moment, it was like, shot clock was going down, right? I know she wants to go left and shoot the three. So trying to be as close as I can, but she was deep out there,” Stewart said with a smile, “Once she made it, she was just kind of laughing, and I was laughing. It was a great shot, it was a tough shot. And it’s one of those ones where you just [shrug in disbelief] when you go to the other end,” she added. “I’m happy I’m seeing a lot of ‘great sportsmanship’ comments from that.”
stewie on caitlin’s logo shot over her:
“after she made it she was laughing and i was laughing. it was a great shot. a tough shot. one where you just *raises hands* when you go to the other end. i’m happy seeing a lot of ‘great sportsmanship’ comments.”
her hitting the shrug pic.twitter.com/NnPQ6ffquA
— cc akgae (@clrkszn) June 17, 2025
In a WNBA season full of controversies, it was refreshing to see two players just appreciating the moment. Clark was just in that kind of a mood that even a legend like Stewart had nothing to say about it. Even Sabrina Ionescu appreciated Clark’s performance after the game. And this attitude from her and the entire Liberty team makes them a championship-winning side.
Sometimes, you simply have to acknowledge greatness when you see it, even when it comes from the other side. In a league as competitive as the WNBA, where elite talent is on display every night, it is impossible to dominate every moment. Players like Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson, and many others bring a level of intensity and skill that demands respect. When an opponent delivers something remarkable, whether it is a deep logo three or a game-changing play, it serves as a reminder of the incredible competition that defines the league.
The post WNBA Coach’s Action Towards Caitlin Clark Questioned on ESPN Radio Broadcast appeared first on EssentiallySports.