Group USA: Caitlin Clark not anticipated to be named to 2024 Olympic Group

It’s been a wild week within the WNBA Cinematic Universe. Atone for the information from round girls’s basketball.

Sources: Caitlin Clark not on Group USA

Studies have begun to flow into concerning the 12 gamers who will likely be named to Group USA for the 2024 Olympic Video games. (We’ll cowl the roster when it’s official.) Forward of the announcement, nonetheless, the main focus has been on who just isn’t anticipated to be on the crew, as Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark just isn’t anticipated to be named to the ultimate roster.

In response to USA TODAY’s Christine Brennan, “concern over how Clark’s thousands and thousands of followers would react to what would seemingly be restricted taking part in time on a stacked roster was an element within the choice making.” Brennan then writes, “If true, that might be a unprecedented admission of the strain that this multi-million-dollar sensation, who indicators autographs for dozens of kids earlier than and after each sport, has brought on for the outdated guard of girls’s basketball.”

Though using hyperbolic language can add drama to the choice, USA Basketball, fairly merely, is prioritizing profitable gold in Paris, not the hearts of the Heartland. Choosing Clark would, basically, be making her a mascot. (And if Group USA wants a mascot, Massive Ellie is a better option.)

Greater than basketball

Whereas the Commissioner’s Cup injects an additional dose on on-court pleasure throughout the WNBA season, the competitors additionally comes with off-the-court influence. By means of their play in Cup video games, groups can assist a selected charity by incomes donation {dollars} from the league. This season, the organizations chosen by all 12 groups spotlight the significance of voting on reproductive well being care issues inside communities of shade and LGBTQ+ communities.

• Atlanta Dream, Serving to Mamas: Serving to Mamas works with associate businesses to distribute important child provides to households residing in poverty in Georgia.
• Indiana Fever, Indiana Black Expo: Since 1970, the Indiana Black Expo has advocated for Black communities throughout the state of Indiana.
• Connecticut Solar, Reproductive Fairness Now: Reproductive Fairness Now works to offer equitable entry to reproductive well being look after all individuals, no matter background, identification or circumstance.
• Chicago Sky, EverThrive Illinois: EverThrive helps underserved communities in Illinois entry high quality well being care.

• New York Liberty, Ladies Creating Change: Ladies Creating Change empowers girls and gender-expansive individuals from underserved communities to grow to be changemakers.
• Los Angeles Sparks, Feminist Majority Basis: The Feminist Majority Basis empowers feminists of all genders economically, socially and politically.
• Dallas Wings, The Afiya Middle: The one reproductive justice group based by Black womxn in North Texas, the Afiya Middle gives refuge and sources for Black womxn and women.
• Washington Mystics, Vote 411: VOTE411 works to make sure that voters have all the data wanted to take part in all elections.

• Las Vegas Aces, Reproductive Freedom for All: Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada mobilizes communities and lobbies lawmakers to defend and develop entry to reproductive well being care.
• Seattle Storm, Professional Selection Washington: Professional-Selection Washington is an unbiased reproductive freedom group that advocates for reproductive and bodily autonomy for all.
• Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Coalition for Change: Arizona Coalition for Change is a Black-led group that empowers on a regular basis individuals to remodel their communities.
• Minnesota Lynx, Gender Justice: Gender Justice works to dismantle political and structural obstacles that forestall everybody—no matter their gender, gender expression or sexual orientation—from thriving.

For WNBA.com, Jordan Robinson spoke to the Sparks’ Layshia Clarendon, a member of the WNBA and WNBPA’s Social Justice Council, concerning the gamers’ civic engagement priorities. As Clarendon says, “For the brand new fan, welcome to essentially the most dynamic league on this planet with essentially the most dynamic gamers, who do some little bit of every little thing, with additionally a tremendous product on the court docket.”

Ezi extends with Storm

On Tuesday, the Seattle Storm introduced that the crew had signed Ezi Magbegor to a contract extension.

After Magbegor obtained the bag, she dipped into her bag, hitting her first six pictures and outscoring the Phoenix Mercury within the first quarter. Magbegor had 13 first-quarter factors to the Mercury’s 12, ending the evening with a team-high 21 factors. She additionally led the Storm with 9 boards and three blocks of their 80-62 victory.

Earlier than the sport, Magbegor defined her choice to signal the one-year, $186,000 fully-protected extension, sharing with reporters:

I believe there’s been plenty of funding clearly within the facility. Simply the professionalism of this crew, I believe, has actually leveled up. That’s one thing I simply need to be part of it. Jewell dedicated for 2 years. Sky’s dedicated. The crew’s dedicated, so I’m dedicated as nicely.

Pili indicators Nike deal

Minnesota Lynx rookie Alissa Pili has signed an endorsement cope with Nike as an N7 athlete, the model’s group influence class that helps Indigenous entry to youth sports activities. On the endorsement alternative, Pili stated:

I’m so honored to affix the Nike Household as a Nike N7 athlete. Illustration is vital to me, and I sit up for making an influence within the league and demonstrating to all of the Indigenous and Polynesian women who love the sport, that they’ll attain their goals.

Extra wins in Storrs for Geno

After securing the 1,2 hundredth win of his profession, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma advised, “I may most likely say, with quite a lot of certainty, that I’ll by no means be No. 1 in wins, I don’t assume that may occur. And I’m nonetheless going to get pleasure from my wine and I’m going to sleep good tonight.”

Nicely Geno, it’s going to occur. With 1,213 wins, simply three behind the recently-retired Tara VanDerveer’s all-time NCAA Division I mark of 1,216 victories, Auriemma seems destined not simply to go VanDerveer early subsequent season, but in addition to determine a near-unbreakable document. The 70-year-old Auriemma signed a five-year contract extension with UConn, indicating he’ll be gathering wins in Storrs by means of the top of the 2029 season.