With the 2024 Olympics being around the corner, Team USA faces uncertainty over the availability of one of its top women’s basketball stars.
Diana Taurasi, a six-time Olympian, has suffered a leg injury, missing three of the Phoenix Mercury’s last four games and is set to sit out Friday’s match against the Indiana Fever.
Taurasi has continued to deliver strong performances this season, averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. However, her injury status casts doubt on her participation in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
If Taurasi is unable to compete, it could pave the way for Caitlin Clark, who was named an alternate despite not being selected for the main roster.
Clark has impressed in her first WNBA season, averaging 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. Her achievements include being named an All-Star and recording the league’s first rookie triple-double.
Clark’s omission has stirred debate, with some high-profile figures expressing disappointment. Casey Wasserman, president of the 2028 Olympic Organizing Committee in Los Angeles, called her exclusion a “missed opportunity,” highlighting her as a generational talent.