Despite scrutiny over social media posts targeting Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball remains silent, declining to address the matter.
In the aftermath of Caitlin Clark's omission from the 2024 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, scrutiny has fallen upon Minnesota Lynx coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve's social media remarks. However, USA Basketball has declined to address the situation, leaving Reeve's comments under the radar.
Reeve, who was appointed head coach of the national team earlier this year, has faced criticism after several of her posts mentioning Clark resurfaced following USA Basketball's decision to leave her off the roster.
Reeve's Clark Comments Stay Under USA Basketball Radar
On May 3, Reeve responded to a WNBA post teasing the Fever's preseason game against the Dallas Wings, which included an image of Clark. Reeve's response read, "ALSO in action tonight - @minnesotalynx vs @chicagosky 7pm CST... as we start the season off right." She added the hashtags "#12teams" and "#theWismorethanoneplayer."
Later, in response to a question about why the Lynx game was not being televised, Reeve wrote, "Because they only care about Caitlin."
Reeve's Clark Comments Stay Under USA Basketball Radar
The timing of these posts, in relation to the women's national team selection process, has raised concerns. USA Today's Christine Brennan reported that after repeated requests for comment, a USA Basketball spokesperson relayed that Reeve would not be commenting on the matter.
The spokesperson clarified that Reeve does not have an official role in selecting the 12-person roster but is involved in the process. They stated that the roster is chosen by the committee and that Reeve is responsible for outlining on-court principles and providing instruction at camps and competitions.
Reeve's Clark Comments Stay Under USA Basketball Radar
USA Basketball did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. According to USA Today, the governing body also declined to comment on the appropriateness of Reeve's posts regarding Clark.
USA Basketball selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti told the Associated Press that Clark's exclusion was primarily due to her lack of experience.
Reeve's Clark Comments Stay Under USA Basketball Radar
"It would be irresponsible for us to talk about her in a way other than how she would impact the play of the team," Rizzotti said. "Our committee's focus was to create the best team possible for Cheryl."
Despite the concerns and speculation surrounding Reeve's posts, USA Basketball has maintained a silence on the matter, leaving the issue unresolved and the details of the selection process open to interpretation.
