Caitlin Clark's play may have warranted Olympics roster spot after all, coach Dawn Staley says

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The U.S. women’s basketball team will make its Paris Olympics debut on Monday in a game against Japan.

The team will not have Caitlin Clark on the bench as USA Basketball officials did not put the Indiana Fever rookie on the roster with the rest of the dominant WNBA stars. The decision sparked outrage across the sports world and allegations that WNBA legends and veterans alike were mistreating the sensational sharpshooter.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Caitlin Clark, #22 of Team WNBA, looks on before the 2024 WNBA All-Star game against the USA Basketball Women's National Team at Footprint Center on July 20, 2024 in Phoenix. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The iciness toward Clark appeared to be thawing over recent weeks. Clark has been seen talking to more veteran players and mingling with those on the team during the WNBA All-Star Game.

South Carolina women’s basketball coach and former Team USA women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley suggested on Sunday in an interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico that, perhaps, Clark did do enough to warrant a spot on the team after all. Clark had a record 19 assists in her final regular-season game before the All-Star break.

"As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players, the best talent," Staley said. "Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now. If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people.

Dawn Staley, head coach of South Carolina, looks on as first