The president of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee weighed in on Caitlin Clark's omission from Team USA and called it a "missed opportunity."
"I think it's a missed opportunity because she's clearly a generational talent at a time when the world was ready for it," said Casey Wasserman, who's also a sports agent at his eponymous firm, in an interview with USA Today's Christine Brennan.
Wasserman acknowledged the women's game has boasted "incredible talents," but argued the landscape wasn't equipped to showcase talent in the way it is now.
"Take Diana (Taurasi) or Breanna Stewart, or some of our (Wasserman) clients who are going to be on the team," he said. "They are dominant at a level that's never been seen before but the world wasn't ready to fill a building like Caitlin Clark did for whatever, the Final Four."
Wasserman echoed the arguments of many fans who believed USA Basketball should've selected Clark for the 2024 Summer Olympics. It's possible the Indiana Fever star could've provided a further lift to the Summer Games and Team USA in the same way she has brought a larger spotlight to the WNBA.
The effect may have had diminishing returns, however, once it became clear the No. 1 overall pick would've occupied a reserve role for the United States. While Clark has performed well (16.2 PTS, 5.4 REB, 6.2 AST), she's not one of the best guards in the national team pool.
During the last Olympics, the Washington Mystics' Ariel Atkins, Seattle Storm's Skylar Diggins-Smith and Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier all logged fewer than 40 minutes for the entire tournament. With that kind of usage, Clark's impact as a box-office draw could've waned.
The good news for Wasserman is the 22-year-old should be in a much stronger position to represent Team USA in 2028.
