Caitlin Clark's Olympic Snub: A Blessing in Disguise?

Jemele Hill believes that Caitlin Clark's absence from the US Olympic team could actually benefit the rookie phenom, who has had a grueling schedule since graduating from college.

Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever's first overall pick in the WNBA Draft, was recently snubbed from the 12-person roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics. While such an omission is typically met with disappointment, former ESPN personality Jemele Hill believes it could be a positive development for the young star.

Hill notes that Clark's schedule has been relentless since the end of her college career. She wrapped up her college season on April 7, was drafted to the Fever one week later, and immediately began practicing. The Fever's WNBA season kicked off on May 14, with preseason training starting 11 days prior.

The WNBA season will pause for nearly a month due to the Olympics, giving Clark a much-needed break from her hectic schedule. Hill argues that this time off could be beneficial for Clark's development and recovery.

Clark showcased her remarkable talents on Friday night, tying her career-high of 30 points and hitting a WNBA rookie record of seven three-pointers in the Fever's 85-83 win over the Washington Mystics. She also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists, joining New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu as the only rookies to record a 30-5-5 stat line in a WNBA game.

Despite her impressive performance, Clark's Fever are currently sitting at 3-9 on the season. Hill suggests that a break from the pressure could help Clark and her team turn their season around.

In contrast to Clark's situation, Hill points to the snubbing of Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike from previous Olympic teams as genuine snubs. Parker, a two-time gold medalist, former MVP, and champion, and Ogwumike, the league MVP who led Team USA in scoring a year before the Olympics and was MVP of the FIBA qualifying tournament, were both shockingly left off the roster.

With just weeks before the start of the Olympics, it remains to be seen how Clark will handle her Olympic snub. However, if Hill's theory holds true, it could be a blessing in disguise for the rising basketball star.