A Japanese female basketball fan took a shot at the U.S. team with a sign featuring Kaitlin Clark ahead of the game against the United States at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Kerith Burke spotted Team USA stars A’ja Wilson, Brittney Griner and others pointing at the sign. Team USA hopes to extend their winning streak at international competition and defeat Japan in a rematch of the 2020 Olympic gold medal game.
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WNBA’s Arik Ogunbowale (right) with teammates Caitlin Clark (center) and Aliyah Boston (left) during the second half of the WNBA All-Star basketball game against Team USA on Saturday, July 20, 2024 Celebrating after hitting a three-pointer in the game, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
“You need Caitlin Clark to beat us,” the sign read.
Team USA doesn’t seem to need Caitlin Clark or anyone else to get past Team Japan. Team USA won the game 102-76.
Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces scored 24 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Brianna Stewart of the New York Liberty had 22 points and 8 rebounds. Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, Stewart’s teammate Sabrina Ionescu and Wilson’s teammate Kelsey Plum each scored 11 points.
Clark was left off the Olympic roster when he was named in June. She had only played in a few WNBA games at the time.
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The United States stands for the national anthem before their game against Japan at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Paris, France on July 29, 2024. (Jesse D. Garabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
But as the season progressed, Clark scored a triple-double and sent out 19 assists in a single game, setting a single-game assist record.
Clark’s performance seemed to change Dwayne Staley’s opinion of the rookie.
“As a committee member, your job is to assemble the best group of players, the best talent,” Staley said on NBC. “Kaitlin was just a rookie in the WNBA, and she didn’t play bad, but she didn’t play like she does now. If we had to do it over again, with the way she played, she would be highly regarded.” The reason for joining this team is Because her performance far exceeds that of many others.
Team USA’s No. 9 A’ja Wilson watches during the game against Japan at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Paris, France on July 29, 2024. (Jesse D. Garabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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“Shooting the ball really well, I mean she’s a good passer, she has a high basketball IQ and she’s more experienced in the pros in a few months than she was two months ago.”
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