The women's basketball team grabbed an unprecedented eighth gold medal in a row during their Paris showing. But for all of the spectacular play that happened, more was made about who wasn't on the roster. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark were notable exclusions from the final cut. In reality, these discussions show how much the WNBA is overlooked.
The fact of the matter is that there is a lot of talent in the league, and any notion that the former guard of the Iowa Hawkeyes would simply dominate or take over showed a degree of lack of understanding. As showcased, this was a deep roster that comfortably made it to the finals. It's worth noting that from a combination of talent on the French side, the home atmosphere and a sluggish offensive performance in the last game came down to the wire.
But this would have been the case more likely than not with her without an elite shooter or rebounder. Of course, it's impossible to say if the inclusion of either Reese or Clark would have made a difference in making this particular game less close than what it was. But this is a hypothetical that doesn't deserve too much more attention. The game, more likely than not, would have played out similarly, and it would have taken something of a career-best game from anyone to completely turn around how everything ended up playing out.
This recognition is on display as the current Chicago Sky frontcourt player expressed something of frustration on social media. It started with an account affiliated with ESPN, ESPN Women's Hoops, looking ahead to how the roster will look when Los Angeles hosts the Olympics in four years. This is something of an obsession in sports discourse. Too many are willing and yearning to look for the next best thing or to move on from a performance or moment that was simply spectacular.
Why Angel Reese is correct in her stance
Part of it may be the instant gratification social media era that we're in, and a lot of it has to do with the general need to seek a lack of boredom. This results too often in not giving respect to aspects that deserve to simmer and underappreciating a lot of good things that happen. This is not a judgment or indictment on the post. Instead, it illustrates a larger issue in society.
This past Olympic team has put in years of work and was able to come together at the right time to string together a series of wins and keep a very impressive streak alive. The account, like many onlookers, is now more concerned about who was or wasn't included and who will or will not be involved in 2028.
Moreover, contributions from players like A'ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi both this year and years past once again deserve more recognition than what they are presently getting. This captures the sentiment of the Sky player's response. This doesn't show a lack of self-confidence or lack of belief in her own ability.
She even goes on to say that her time will come. Regardless of when that will be or what that will exactly look like, her overall point stands to reason. This version of the Olympic team achieves something significant. Future players who suit up for the United States will have an equally tough task in their pursuit of gold. But to continue to play games and to cloud conversations surrounding the players in the WNBA does not serve anyone well. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark may be rivals on the court, but they respect each other, and when they deserve to compete for the same American team, they certainly will be a force to be reckoned with.
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