Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese should BOTH have been at Paris Olympics for Team USA, insists Stephen A. Smith – even after the women’s team won gold

The USA women’s basketball team might have won gold at the Paris Olympics, but the debate over Caitlin Clark’s snub from the team still isn’t going away.

Clark, the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft by Indiana Fever, has driven the league’s popularity to new levels in her rookie season – thanks due to her skillset and her rivalry with Angel Reese, the No. 7 pick by Chicago Sky.

Clark and Reese are locked in a battle for WNBA Rookie of the Year, with the season resuming on Thursday when Reese and Sky face Phoenix Mercury. But instead of having a month off, Smith believes they both should have been in France.

‘I’m just of the mindset that when you look Team USA basketball, I’m still think Caitlin Clark should have been on the team,’ Smith said. ‘And to a lesser degree, Angel Reese. I think she should have been on the team too. But definitely Caitlin Clark.’

Clark missed out on the roster after missing USA practice this year due to commitments in the NCAA tournament with Iowa.

Smith also said that Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky should have been there in Paris 

And the USA team did fine without her, winning the final 67-66 against hosts France to return with Olympic gold.

Smith continued: ‘Congrats to them – it was far more thrilling than it needed to be. They got it done. I was just of the mindset that Caitlin Clark needed to be on this team.

‘I’m not running from it. You came home with gold, you handled your business. 

‘The ladies represented us well, they always do. 

‘But when you talk about marketing the sport I think Team USA missed an opportunity to elevate the profile of women’s excellence in basketball.’

Clark returns to WNBA action a day after Reese when Indiana Fever play host Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.

Reese went on vacation during the WNBA hiatus and so too did Clark. She also made a quick trip to New York at the weekend to watch the Yankees play.

She met Aaron Judge, as well, and watched from the stands as the Yankees beat World Series winners Texas Rangers.

Both Clark and Reese are widely expected to front the USA team at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.