WNBA star reveals she withdrew from Olympics selection because of team ‘politics’ after Caitlin Clark’s snub prompted furious backlash

Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale says that she voluntarily withdrew her name from consideration for the USA women’s Olympic basketball team – saying she felt that she wouldn’t be selected for a while.

Ogunbowale, who won a national title while at Notre Dame, is one of the leading scorers in the WNBA – averaging the second-most points in the league.

But when her name was not on the list of players for the Olympic team, it was viewed as one of the biggest snubs for the squad – alongside other absences like Caitlin Clark among others.

However, Ogunbowale set the record straight on an episode of the ‘Nightcap’ podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson.

‘I pretty much had an idea that I wouldn’t be on it,’ Ogunbowale said. ‘I just felt the vibes. When it comes to that stuff, it really doesn’t have much to do with your game. It’s really about who they think fits with the team.’

While the team included stars like A’ja Wilson (9) and Breanna Stewart (10), many believed that Ogunbowale was snubbed from the roster and that she deserved a chance to play in Paris

‘I actually took my name out of the pool months ago,’ she added. ‘When the list came out, I know everybody was like, “Arike should’ve been on it.” I knew I wouldn’t be on it. 

‘That’s not saying I didn’t think maybe last year I would be on the team, that I was good enough to make the team. But when the list came out I knew I would not be on that one at the time ’cause I took my name out the pool.

‘With the pool, it’s a big commitment. Like, if I know they’re not picking me, I’m not gonna keep getting tested… Me being me, I’m not gonna give you my time if I know the vibes.’

She added: ‘When I think of women’s basketball and how many years I’ve been playing in college and pro, politics is always surrounding it. 

‘Whether that’s USA Basketball, All-Star teams, [All-WNBA] first-team, stuff like that — there’s politics. There’s politics in everything.’ 

Someone else who many believed was snubbed from the roster was Caitlin Clark

There’s certainly not a lack of people who believe that Ogunbowale should be on the team – a list that includes her Wings head coach Latricia Trammell.

‘I don’t like it,’ Trammell said (via ClutchPoints). “But I am very proud of the players that did make it. I know that they will represent our country extremely well. 

‘But you always talk about Arike, needs to be in the MVP talks. … I was disappointed that I did not see her name because I think she deserves it. I’m not taking away from the players that did make it.’