Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve made it clear she wouldn’t be taking questions about the Paris Summer Olympics after Minnesota’s game against Caitlin Clark on Sunday.
Reeve, who also serves as head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, sounded frustrated when asked about Clark’s future with the national team.
“Why on earth should I answer the national team’s questions?” Reeve said:“I wear the Lynx and I’m the head coach of the national team, but I’m not the commissioner. Who else wants to try something?” he said, according to ESPN.
ESPN’s Myron Medcalf asked Reeve about the national team: I wrote in a follow-up post “After he answered the question, he walked past me and said, ‘Thank you,'” Reeve said.
Clark was the Fever’s first overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft but made headlines last month when she was not included on USA Basketball’s 12-player roster for the Olympics.
Some believed Clark’s name recognition and popularity would increase revenue and viewership for the Summer Olympics, while others believed the rising star was not yet ready to play for the U.S. team.
Selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti said in a statement at the time that the decision was based on basketball criteria, not on the fame or attention Clark would bring to the game this summer.
Before the Fever’s 81-74 win over Minnesota on Sunday, another reporter asked about the increased attendance at Target Center with Clark and the Fever’s visit, but Reeve expressed no interest.
Warning: explicit language
“I do not care” Reeve joked. A member of the “probably” Fever-supporting fanbase in Minneapolis.
When a reporter joked, “How about one?” Reeve responded: “[I don’t’ give] There is not a single dropping.”
The Lynx played to a sellout crowd of 18,978 in Clark’s return to the Target Center, where he led the Hawkeyes to a Big Ten Tournament championship in March.
Clark praised the fans who came out to support her in Minneapolis.
“There were a lot of Fever fans there.” Clark after the Fever improved to 11-14.“Everybody was cheering and it was crazy. I’m sure there were a lot of people cheering when we played Iowa, but this is a great venue and the Target Center is awesome.”
“I remember when I was here in college, people lined up all night just to get in. Everybody loves women’s basketball. This city supports women’s basketball. Of course, the history here and the Lynx’s accomplishments. But I think there’s a little bit of magic here. Who knows. Good luck, we’ll be back.”
Clark scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and also had three rebounds and six assists.
“Everyone knows the reason teams around the league are packed is because Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are coming to town.” Reeve said in his post-match press conference: When a reporter asked how the WNBA plans to capitalize on its growing popularity going forward.
“Angel Reese had an impact on attendance at the Chicago game, but I think it will have an impact on the road too. So all the league can do is prepare to take advantage of the moment, but it’s pretty much the same as we saw.” [Larry] Birds and magic [Johnson] Came to the league [NBA]Well, yes. The league has been preparing for a turning point, but we’re here and now we need to take advantage of it.”
Clark and Reese are the only rookies selected for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, which culminates on July 20 in Phoenix.
This year’s WNBA All-Star format will put the spotlight on a WNBA team versus a USA team featuring the league’s stars competing in the Paris Olympics.
The 2024 Olympics will run from July 26 to Aug. 11, with the women’s 5-on-5 basketball competition taking place from July 27 to Aug. 11, with the qualifying rounds taking place in Lille, France.
