WNBA Legend Lisa Leslie Doubles Down on Caitlin Clark Comments

Caitlin Clark has been one of the most discussed athletes in sports since her historic college career with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The buzz has since followed Clark into her professional career. She was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. and immediately took the league by storm in her rookie season.

Clark shattered attendance records, delivered multiple record-breaking performances, and led the Fever back to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

However, one of the biggest controversies of her early career came when she was left off the 2024 U.S. Olympic team for the Paris Games. The decision sparked heated debate across the basketball world, with many arguing that Clark's popularity and drawing power should have earned her a spot on the roster.

Among the prominent voices who publicly supported Clark and argued against her exclusion was WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who felt Clark was snubbed.

On Thursday, Leslie appeared on an episode of ESPN's "First Take" to discuss a series of basketball topics, including her upcoming statue unveiling by the Los Angeles Sparks. Midway through the conversation, Stephen A. Smith revisited the topic with Leslie and asked what she felt about Clark's absence from the Olympic team.

"I don't know how we left the country without her," Leslie said. "She's a game changer. She's moved the needle in a way that we had not seen in women's basketball before. I thought she not necessarily earned a spot but deserved to be there."

While Team USA went on to win the gold medal in Paris, many critics have maintained that Clark should have been included, believing her presence would have brought massive global attention to the WNBA and women's basketball.

Less than two years later, Clark made her senior Team USA debut during the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in April. She led the Americans to a perfect 5-0 record and was named tournament MVP.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 11:27 AM.