Among the many debates surrounding Caitlin Clark over the years, her 2024 Olympics team selection might be the most talked about. The sentiment around it is largely ambiguous, with basketball romantics and analysts split opinions down the middle. But for two-time WNBA Champion Lisa Leslie, there’s never been a doubt, as she reaffirms her stance recently.

Speaking at ESPN’s First Take, Leslie heaped praise on CC, clearly pinpointing that the Fever guard should have been there on that flight to Paris.

“If we roll back to the tweets when I said, I don’t know how we left the country without her,” she said. “I felt she is a game-changer. She’s moved the game and the needling in a way we had not seen in women’s basketball before. I thought she didn’t necessarily earn a spot, but deserved to be there.

“You know part of it’s political. You get to pick whoever you want, and they chose to take Diana Taurasi, who got her 6th gold medal. But I thought Caitlin Clark should have been on that team,” she added further.

Before the Olympics, Clark was the only collegiate athlete to be selected for the 14-player training camp roster. Further, she had an amazing season for Iowa, leading her team to the Championship game.

On top of that, Clark also made a blistering start to her Indiana Fever career, recording 10+ points and moving the ball with ease. In fact, before June, when the team was announced, Clark had already done enough to prove her mettle. Her 30 points against the LA Sparks during that stretch just amplify the fact that she burns the brightest when the stakes are higher.

All of it combined to give Clark a solid backing for her selection to the 2024 Olympics squad. In fact, Leslie was quite sure that Clark should board that flight. The LA Sparks legend had emphasized the Fever guard’s selection for the quadrennial event during an interview with ESPN.

“She better be on the Olympic team,” Leslie had said back then. “We should not leave the country without her. She’s a bona fide baller. There’s no doubt she’s already one of the best players in the world.”

But as reality set in, Lisa Leslie’s statement found no solid footing. Caitlin Clark’s name couldn’t make it to the list. Instead, the Team USA Selection Committee went with a more veteran-laden squad. Committee chair Jen Rizzotti had shared that there were players who just couldn’t have been left out for Clark.

“When you base your decision on criteria, there were other players that were harder to cut because they checked a lot more boxes,” she had said.

Of course, the snub was worthy of a discussion. And analysts like Stephen A. Smith lashed out at the decision, citing that it “compromises what your (Team USA’s) ultimate goal is.” But for Clark, she wasn’t “disappointed”, as it just gave her “something to work for.”

Eventually, Team USA went on to win an 8th straight Olympic gold medal in the French capital. But Clark wasn’t in that frame, dreaming far away from donning the red and blue jersey for Team USA. Fast forward two years, and her dream is slowly gaining momentum.

Earlier in the year, she made it to the national team for the World Cup qualifiers. She made an immediate impact, earning tournament MVP honors. And with this momentum, it’s quite certain that Clark will earn a place in the FIBA World Cup squad later this year.

Furthermore, in the prime years of Clark’s career, the 2028 LA Olympics call-up is just a matter of time, where Leslie’s call will eventually find some substance. But before that, the WNBA legend does have something more to say about Caitlin Clark’s ongoing WNBA endeavors.

Lisa Leslie Isn’t Concerned About Caitlin Clark’s Latest On-Court Struggles

Last week, the WNBA finally got its crown jewel back. Caitlin Clark finally returned to the league for the first time since July last year, when she had to sit out the majority of the season due to a groin injury. But fast forward to two games in the season, and it felt like CC never left the court.

Back-to-back 20+ points games against Dallas and LA just add weight to it. But the one skill that has been her bread and butter for years now seems a bit rusty for the first time in her career. Three-point shooting has been Clark’s staple, one that has landed her in comparisons with Steph Curry.

But in these first two games, Clark has scored just 3 of 16 attempts from beyond the arc. It’s a surprising stat for CC, but for Lisa Leslie, it’s not daunting for her or the Indiana Fever.

“I would never be concerned about Caitlin Clark’s three-point shooting,” Leslie said. “I think it’s just a great addition to her game, but she’s a great point guard, and I think she makes that team better.”

“Caitlin’s three-point shooting is just icing on the cake,” she added further. “She has such deep range. Defense is obviously aware where she is, and so she’s getting a lot of pressure out there. She’s a competitor. She’s a fighter. And I won’t be worried about that three-point shot.”

Leslie’s assessment makes sense. Despite her cold three-point shooting nights, Caitlin Clark has still managed to find a strong footing from the paint. The layups are coming efficiently. And so are her pinpoint-accurate assists to her teammates.

And considering her prolonged absence from the league, it just might be that CC is still finding her momentum from beyond the arc. With a bit more time this season, her efficiency on three-pointers will also return for good. And with it, the Indiana Fever will also find a new dynamic on offense, as Lisa Leslie believes.