A Japanese women's basketball fan brought a poster of Caitlin Clark to criticize the U.S. team ahead of their matchup at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Kerith Burke captured Team USA stars A'ja Wilson, Brittney Griner and others taking aim at the sign. The Americans were looking to extend their massive international winning streak and defeat Japan in a rematch of the 2020 Olympic gold medal match.
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WNBA All-Star team member Arike Ogunbowale, right, celebrates after her three-point basket against Team USA with teammates Caitlin Clark, center, and Aliyah Boston, left, during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
“We need Caitlin Clark to beat us,” the sign read.
The U.S. team didn't seem to need Caitlin Clark or anyone else to get past Japan. The Americans won the game 102-76.
Las Vegas Aces' Wilson scored 24 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots. New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, Stewart's teammate Sabrina Ionescu and Wilson's teammate Kelsey Plum each scored 11 points.
Clark was left off the Olympic roster when she was selected in June. At the time, she had only played a handful of WNBA games.
SWIMMERS AT THE PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES HAVE NOTICED THE POOL IS 'SLOW' AS GOLD MEDAL TIMES FAILED TO COME CLOSE TO WORLD RECORDS
Team USA stands for the national anthem before the game against Team Japan on July 29, 2024 at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Paris, France. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
But as the season progressed, Clark recorded a triple-double and set the single-game record for assists with 19 in separate outings.
Clark's performance seemed to change Dawn Staley's thoughts on the rookie.
“As a committee member, you have the responsibility to put together the best team of players, the best talent,” Staley said on NBC. “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, she wasn't playing bad, but she wasn't playing like she's playing now. If we had to do it all over again, the way she's playing, she would be one of the top choices to make the team because she's playing so far above a lot of others.
A'ja Wilson #9 of Team USA looks on during the game against Team Japan on July 29, 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Paris, France. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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“She's shooting the ball extremely well, I mean she's an elite passer, she's got a great basketball IQ and she's got a little bit more experience in the pro game in a couple of months than she had two months ago.”
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