Caitlin Clark, the big absence that ignites the Team USA debate

The Indiana Fever star, Caitlin Clark, is once again at the center of the women’s basketball conversation. In fact, her name, already dominating headlines and social media, Was left out of the promotional poster for Team USA’s winter national camp, directed by Sue Bird. Consequently, that omission triggered criticism and renewed discussion about how the sport is being marketed.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Caitlin Clark was not selected to represent the United States. At that time, the decision, based on veteran continuity, was questioned by analysts and fans. Furthermore, many argued that her mere presence would have attracted millions of followers and boosted visibility for women’s basketball. Now, with her inclusion in the 18-player camp, the controversy returns because her image is still missing from the official poster.

An absence that reopens old wounds

Journalist Christine Brennan of USA Today strongly criticized the decision. Additionally, she noted that the national team is repeating the Paris mistake by not capitalizing on Caitlin Clark’s popularity. Brennan emphasized that the mission of a governing body is not only to win medals but also to grow the sport.

This is so interesting: if USA Basketball really wanted to go all out promoting WBB, bring new fans in and get unprecedented attention for a team that dropped in TV viewership at the Paris Olympics, they would have added the photo of one other player to this graphic. But no. https://t.co/uiwVs0mi37

— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) November 24, 2025

After finishing her second WNBA season, Caitlin Clark chose not to play in the Unrivaled league. Instead, she wanted to focus on securing a spot on Team USA’s final roster for the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026. Therefore, her commitment to the national team shows how important this stage of her career is.

The chance for a new cycle

The camp brings together young WNBA and college talents, including Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. Rivals of Caitlin Clark in the league and members of the famous 2020 recruiting class. As a result, the possibility of seeing Clark and Reese on the same team generates huge anticipation, since both are the most talked-about players in women’s basketball today.

I’ve covered the Olympics and US sports national governing bodies (NGBs) for 40+ yrs and plan to be covering them for many more. An NGB’s mission is to win medals but also grow its sport. USA Basketball utterly failed to grow WBB at the 2024 Olympics. This is a continuing story. https://t.co/Yys0u0GJX9

— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) November 24, 2025

As team director, Sue Bird faces the challenge of balancing the veteran core that won gold in Paris with the addition of rising stars like Caitlin Clark. Moreover, France and other national teams have already shown significant progress, proving that the international level is catching up. Consequently, betting on new figures seems essential to maintain American dominance.

The absence of Caitlin Clark from the national camp poster is not a minor detail. As highlighted by Firstsportz, her popularity represents a unique chance to attract audiences and strengthen the growth of women’s basketball. Ultimately, Team USA now has the opportunity to correct past mistakes and fully embrace Clark’s impact. Ensuring her presence helps shape the future of the sport.