NBA legend Paul Pierce is not happy with Team USA’s decision to exclude Caitlin Clark from its 2024 Paris Olympics roster. According to Pierce, it’s a huge mistake and a massive step back for women’s basketball.

Speaking on the latest episode of Undisputed, Pierce highlighted that leaving Clark off the team only slows down the growth of the game rather than developing it further. The Boston Celtics icon shared his confusion with the decision since it only makes sense to include the Indiana Fever rookie on the national team.

“You claim you want the women’s game to grow, but you keep the most popular girl in women’s basketball off the team,” Pierce shared before expressing his belief that the game is taking a “step back” with the move.

“Sometimes you have to say ‘hey guys, this is bigger than the game.’ Women’s basketball is at an all-time high because of Caitlin Clark. I think [women’s basketball] is taking a step back. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Women’s basketball dropped the ball on this one.”

It’s hard to disagree with Paul Pierce for that take. After all, part of the Olympics’ mission is to nurture the growth of various sports.

Team USA and the Olympics had the opportunity to amplify that growth by bringing in Caitlin Clark and benefiting from the eyeballs and media exposure she automatically gets. Instead, as Pierce said, USA Basketball “dropped the ball” by not picking her.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks to drive past New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton (5) in the second quarter at Barclays Center.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

While Clark has accepted the decision and said she’s not disappointed at all, no one can blame her fans for feeling frustrated.

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