Sure, the decision to leave Caitlin Clark off the 2024 Olympic roster was a hard pill to swallow for many, and for some, it remains a wound that hasn’t healed. Even the author of On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports believes the Indiana Fever star was hard done by.

“It was shocking to me then; it’s shocking to me now! It was a huge mistake, the mistake looks worse and worse every day that goes by as we’re gonna approach two years this summer of Caitlin not being put on the Olympic team… It’s the most ridiculous thing in the world… That was the worst Olympic decision, team selection decision I have seen,” Christine Brennan exclaimed in conversation with the local Assistant Sports Director, Jack Lido.

The 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team featured several experienced, high-quality guards, which made it difficult to include Caitlin Clark. Diana Taurasi, Kelsey Plum, and Jewell Loyd filled the guard spots. Clark also wasn’t the only young player left out, as the 2024 Olympic squad was the first to feature no players under the age of 25.

The Indiana Fever star’s defensive weaknesses rendered her an ineffective option for head coach Cheryl Reeve, who prioritized defense on the floor. Further, the team included seven players from the group that won gold in Tokyo, which was the seventh straight for the Americans.

While there were plausible reasons, reports also indicated that the selection committee feared a mid-tournament backlash from fans if Clark wasn’t provided adequate minutes, a real possibility in Reeve’s system.

“Here’s the basketball criteria that we were given as a committee, and how do we evaluate our players based on that?” Selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti told The Associated Press in an interview. “And when you base your decision on criteria, there were other players that were harder to cut because they checked a lot more boxes. Then sometimes it comes down to position, style of play for [coach Cheryl Reeve], and then sometimes a vote.”

However, the 24-year-old remained unaffected by the omission, which ended up working in her favor. Meanwhile, the U.S. Olympic team returned from Paris with a gold medal, beating Australia in a closely fought final.

The 2024 rookie entered the WNBA following a deep NCAA tournament run with the Iowa Hawkeyes and used the period to recharge.

The result was a record-breaking rookie season, with the Indiana Fever making the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Clark’s performances earned her All-WNBA First Team honors in her rookie season, and she is now seen as an automatic pick for the 2028 Olympic squad.

For Caitlin Clark, however, the focus will be on the 2026 season, as it presents an opportunity to mount another title challenge. The Indiana Fever have also ensured that the 24-year-old can focus on what she does best by bringing in defensive maestro Raven Johnson from the 2026 draft.

Raven Johnson is excited to play alongside Caitlin Clark

While the Raven Johnson–Caitlin Clark wave-off incident from 2023 continues to make headlines following the former’s selection by the Indiana Fever on draft night, the South Carolina star has shut down speculation, expressing her excitement about teaming up with the charismatic guard.

After the 2026 WNBA Draft, Raven Johnson immediately answered when asked which Indiana player she was most looking forward to playing with.

“Caitlin Clark. Caitlin Clark,” she answered before explaining, “She is a phenomenal player. I mean, with the things she does, it’s bar standard. She can shoot the ball, can lead a team, and they win. Like, she has a winning mentality. And I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Raven Johnson explained in-depth how the viral wave-off clip affected her. However, even the 23-year-old can attest to her new teammate’s quality.

The 2023 Final Four defeat prevented South Carolina from reaching the National Championship game. And while they won the NCAA Tournament the following year, even her head coach, Dawn Staley, admitted the 2023 result still haunts her.

“For me, I’m haunted by 2023. [In] 2023, I’m haunted by that particular Final Four because of the players that we had, and the season that we were having. And it got upended, and I never got a chance to coach the [freshmen] anymore. We won it the following year, but that particular group was pretty special. And I’m still haunted by it,” Dawn Staley said after beating UConn in the Final Four game this year.

Even in the 2024 NCAA Tournament win, the Gamecocks failed to stop Caitlin Clark, who ended the game with 30 points in a performance that included a record 18 points in the first quarter.

Coming to the WNBA, Clark has firmly established herself as one of the best players in the league and even earned the ESPY Award for the Best WNBA Player in 2025.

Regardless of their incidents, Raven Johnson will share the floor with Caitlin Clark, who represents proven WNBA quality.