USA basketball chair says it would have been ‘irresponsible’ to put Caitlin Clark on Olympic roster
đ¨Breaking:Caitlin Clark FORCES Team USA Basketball Chair Jen Rizzotti To Respond AGAINâźď¸
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USA basketball chair says it would have been âirresponsibleâ to put Caitlin Clark on Olympic roster
Jen Rizzotti said popularity was not a factor in the decision-making
Skip Bayless, Rachel Nichols and Keyshawn Johnson react to USAâs Womenâs Basketball Olympic roster, Caitlin Clarkâs omission and the highlight the biggest snubs from the WNBA.
The USA Basketball staff knew what kind of backlash they would get if they had not included Caitlin Clark on the Olympic roster.
Well, they made the decision to leave the No. 1 overall pick off, and the noise has been loud.
Clark herself said that âthey woke a monster,â and it remains a debate on whether she was snubbed or not.
However, the organization feels that, simply, Clark isnât one of the 12 best players to represent the United States.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) poses during WNBA basketball teamâs media day in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 1, 2024.  (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Of course, the eyeballs Clark brings are unprecedented in the womenâs game â she was the star of the four most-watched womenâs college basketball games ever, three of which came in this past March Madness tournament.
Attendance and ratings for her games also donât even compare to othersâ.
However, USA basketball only cares about winning, not popularity, and they simply feel that Clark would not help them.
âIt would be irresponsible for us to talk about her in a way other than how she would impact the play of the team,â selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti told The Associated Press. âBecause it wasnât the purview of our committee to decide how many people would watch or how many people would root for the U.S. It was our purview to create the best team we could for [coach] Cheryl [Reeve].â
USA Today reported last week that a factor in Clark being left off the roster was any potential backlash that would come had Clark gotten little playing time.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever walks off of the court after a game against the Connecticut Sun during the second half at the Mohegan Sun Arena on June 10, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut.  (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Itâs unknown how far Clark got in the running, but the evaluation seemed thorough.
âHereâs the basketball criteria that we were given as a committee and how do we evaluate our players based on that?â Rizzotti said. âAnd 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 Cheryl and then sometimes a vote.â
Clark is averaging 16.3 points per game, which ranks 15th in the WNBA but first among rookies â her 6.0 assists, though, are the fourth-best mark, and she ranks fifth with 2.8 made three-pointers per contest.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever poses for a photo during her introductory press conference on April 17, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Clark has two 30-point games under her belt, including a historic performance on Friday, where she tied a WNBA rookie record with seven three-pointers in an 85-83 win over the Washington Mystics. She also was the second rookie ever to have a 30-5-5 line in a game.
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WNBA rescinds 2nd technical foul against Sky’s Angel Reese
The second technical foul called Tuesday against Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese has been rescinded by the WNBA, the league said Wednesday.
Reese was ejected after drawing two technical fouls for disagreeing with an official in the fourth quarter of the Sky’s 88-75 loss to the visiting New York Liberty.
Reese was called for her fifth personal foul with 2:31 left and then called for two technical fouls by the same official, Charles Watson. Reese appeared to say something to Watson and then quickly waved her hand.
“I tried to get an explanation. I did not,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said in the postgame news conference. “I don’t know to this moment what has happened.”
Lead official Maj Forsberg later told a pool reporter after the game that Reese’s technical fouls were for “disrespectfully addressing” the official and then for “waving her hand in dismissal.”
Reese, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes, did not appear at the news conference.
The Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball, who was in attendance at the game, said on X that he would pay the $400 fine Reese faced from the WNBA for the two technical fouls. Now, that fine will be $200 since it’s only one technical foul.
For the first three technical fouls in a season, the WNBA assesses a $200 fine for each. Technical fouls four to six each get a $400 fine. A seventh technical foul brings an $800 fine plus a one-game suspension.
“Ref that threw out @Reese10Angel is weak btw,” Ball wrote. “You know who you are (Keep ya money Angel I got you).”
Reese replied: “appreciate you gang!”
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PATRICK MAHOMES & THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS LOOK UNSTOPPABLE AT MINICAMP… | CHIEFS NEWS |
Patrick Mahomes & The Kansas City Chiefs Look UNSTOPPABLE At Minicamp… | Chiefs News |
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Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes explains sideline meltdown, backs wide receivers: ‘I’m not always perfect’
Kadarius Toney’s dropped pass resulted in an interception for the Patriots
The Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver corps has been constantly critiqued this season. The increasing number of drops has only put more of a microscope on the group.
In Week 11, Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a critical drop in the fourth quarter that effectively sealed the Chiefs’ fate in a Monday night game against the Eagles. On Sunday, Kadarius Toney tipped a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes that allowed a New England Patriots player to intercept the ball.
Despite the ongoing struggles, Mahomes remains confident in his teammates.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs calls a play during a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Dec. 17, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“Mistakes happen. I’m not always perfect. I have a lot of interceptions this year, and I think it’s something where you just got to keep believing because I know the guys believe in me. And I keep firing.”
Mahomes was visibly upset on the sideline after the interception. The turnover led to a Patriots touchdown, although the Chiefs hung on to beat the New England by 10.
Mahomes explained that his frustrations stemmed from the mistakes he made to put his defense in a tough spot.
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“I think the biggest part is you’re frustrated because you’re putting the defense in a bad position,” Mahomes said. “I had two interceptions. Both of them put the defense in short fields, and they were able to hold them to a field goal on one of those. It’s hard whenever a defense is playing that well to give the offense a short field.”
The reigning Super Bowl champs’ 35 drops lead the NFL.
Toney was also recently criticized after he was flagged for an offside penalty in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 14. The costly mistake nullified a go-ahead touchdown.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney runs to the end zone after catching a lateral from teammate Travis Kelce during the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
However, Mahomes remains steadfast in his belief the Chiefs’ wideouts will get on the right track by the time the postseason arrives.
“It’s going to take everybody to win the Super Bowl, and we know that. So, we’re going to keep having that confidence in everybody that’s on that football field that they’re going to go out there and give everything they have to the team,” Mahomes noted.
“You see the work ethic. You see how hard the guys are working during the week. You know at some point that’s going to translate in a big way, a big game that we can go out there and hopefully at the end of the year have another championship. It’s going to take every day going to work and putting in the time.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes rolls out to pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of a game Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas.  (AP Photo/David Becker)
Toney has a history of making clutch catches in the biggest moments. He hauled in a crucial catch during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I think everything in this league is always closer than you think it is,” Mahomes said. “Bad and good. I think if you’re playing good and you’re on top of the world, that’s when the league kind of gets you. Whenever you make some mistakes, and you feel like you’re down in the dumps, one play can change the whole rhythm of things.”