The US women's national basketball team has been a hot topic in recent days after news emerged that WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark would not be on the 2024 Olympic roster.
Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, A'Ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Sabrina Ionescu make up the final 12-woman roster.
While Clark's omission sparked numerous debates, she wasn't the only player who was snubbed. Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale recently revealed that she has decided to withdraw from Team USA's player pool ahead of the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
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Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings during a game against the Chicago Sky on May 18, 2024, at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
During an appearance on the “Nightcap” podcast, Ogunbowale expressed her belief that the selection committee was not interested in picking her due to her apparent lack of overall fit with the team.
“When it comes to [the Olympic trials]it really doesn't have much to do with your game,” the three-time WNBA All-Star told “Nightcap” co-hosts Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
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“It's really about who they feel fits on the team. So I pulled my name out of the group months ago. That's not to say I didn't think that maybe last year I'd be on the team, and I was good enough to make the team. team. But when the list came out, I knew it wouldn't be that one.”
Arike Ogunbowale (24) of the Dallas Wings handles the ball against the Indiana Fever during a WNBA preseason game on May 3, 2024, at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ogunbowale entered Saturday's game against the Connecticut Sun as the WNBA's second-leading scorer, behind Las Vegas Aces star and two-time league MVP A'ja Wilson.
Ogunbowale also leads the WNBA in steals.
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He added that “politics have always surrounded” women's basketball and suggested that selection criteria are inherently subjective.
“Everyone is great in the WNBA, so they pick who they pick,” she said.
“Whether it's USA Basketball, All-Star teams, first team and things like that, there's politics,” Ogunbowale said. “Even with men [basketball teams]. “There's politics in everything, so I'll leave it at that.”
Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings drives to the basket during a game against the Phoenix Mercury on May 25, 2024, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ogunbowale or Clark could be named as Gray's replacement. The Aces star has yet to appear in a game this season due to injury.
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Ogunbowale earned All-WNBA honors in 2021 and 2022. She was the league's scoring champion in 2020.
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