WNBA guard Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings, revealed on the Nightcap podcast that she withdrew from consideration for the 2024 Paris Olympics after seeing the initial roster. When the reported roster included top players such as A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi, Ogunbowale suspected she wouldn’t fit in with the team.
According to Ogunbowale, the Olympic trials focus more on who fits with the team rather than individual skill. She noted that “politics” play a significant role in many decisions surrounding USA Basketball rosters and All-Star team rosters, making the selection process “subjective.” Despite being the WNBA’s second-leading scorer behind Wilson, Ogunbowale felt she wouldn’t be chosen for the roster.
Ogunbowale mentioned that everyone in the WNBA is “great,” and the selection process comes down to personal preference. She didn’t hide her feelings about the politics involved in team selection, saying “there’s politics in everything, so I’m gonna just leave it at that.”
Fellow guard Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever, was also left off Team USA’s roster. Although she was one of fourteen players invited to the final training camp in April, she didn’t attend due to her collegiate commitments. Clark expressed “no disappointment” at not being selected, instead viewing it as “more motivation” for her future career.
The US women’s basketball team has won every Olympic gold medal since 1996, with their first game in Paris scheduled for July 29 against Japan.
