This Week in Women’s Basketball: Team USA to be announced Tuesday

It’s been a wild week in the WNBA Cinematic Universe. Catch up on the news from around women’s basketball.

Sources: Caitlin Clark not on Team USA

Reports have begun to circulate about the 12 players who will be named to Team USA for the 2024 Olympic Games. (We’ll cover the roster when it’s official.) Ahead of the announcement, however, the focus has been on who is not expected to be on the team, as Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is not anticipated to be named to the final roster.

According to USA TODAY’s Christine Brennan, “concern over how Clark’s millions of fans would react to what would likely be limited playing time on a stacked roster was a factor in the decision making.” Brennan then writes, “If true, that would be an extraordinary admission of the tension that this multi-million-dollar sensation, who signs autographs for dozens of children before and after every game, has caused for the old guard of women’s basketball.”

Although the use of hyperbolic language can add drama to the decision, USA Basketball, quite simply, is prioritizing winning gold in Paris, not the hearts of the Heartland. Selecting Clark would, essentially, be making her a mascot. (And if Team USA needs a mascot, Big Ellie is a better choice.)

Bigger than basketball

While the Commissioner’s Cup injects an extra dose on on-court excitement during the WNBA season, the competition also comes with off-the-court impact. Through their play in Cup games, teams can support a chosen charity by earning donation dollars from the league. This season, the organizations selected by all 12 teams highlight the importance of voting on reproductive health care matters within communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities.

• Atlanta Dream, Helping Mamas: Helping Mamas works with partner agencies to distribute essential baby supplies to families living in poverty in Georgia.
• Indiana Fever, Indiana Black Expo: Since 1970, the Indiana Black Expo has advocated for Black communities across the state of Indiana.
• Connecticut Sun, Reproductive Equity Now: Reproductive Equity Now works to provide equitable access to reproductive health care for all persons, regardless of background, identity or circumstance.
• Chicago Sky, EverThrive Illinois: EverThrive helps underserved communities in Illinois access quality health care.

• New York Liberty, Women Creating Change: Women Creating Change empowers women and gender-expansive people from underserved communities to become changemakers.
• Los Angeles Sparks, Feminist Majority Foundation: The Feminist Majority Foundation empowers feminists of all genders economically, socially and politically.
• Dallas Wings, The Afiya Center: The only reproductive justice organization founded by Black womxn in North Texas, the Afiya Center provides refuge and resources for Black womxn and girls.
• Washington Mystics, Vote 411: VOTE411 works to ensure that voters have all the information needed to participate in all elections.

• Las Vegas Aces, Reproductive Freedom for All: Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada mobilizes communities and lobbies lawmakers to defend and expand access to reproductive health care.
• Seattle Storm, Pro Choice Washington: Pro-Choice Washington is an independent reproductive freedom organization that advocates for reproductive and bodily autonomy for all.
• Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Coalition for Change: Arizona Coalition for Change is a Black-led organization that empowers everyday people to transform their communities.
• Minnesota Lynx, Gender Justice: Gender Justice works to dismantle political and structural barriers that prevent everyone—regardless of their gender, gender expression or sexual orientation—from thriving.

For WNBA.com, Jordan Robinson spoke to the Sparks’ Layshia Clarendon, a member of the WNBA and WNBPA’s Social Justice Council, about the players’ civic engagement priorities. As Clarendon says, “For the new fan, welcome to the most dynamic league in the world with the most dynamic players, who do a little bit of everything, with also an amazing product on the court.”

Ezi extends with Storm

On Tuesday, the Seattle Storm announced that the team had signed Ezi Magbegor to a contract extension.

After Magbegor got the bag, she dipped into her bag, hitting her first six shots and outscoring the Phoenix Mercury in the first quarter. Magbegor had 13 first-quarter points to the Mercury’s 12, finishing the night with a team-high 21 points. She also led the Storm with nine boards and three blocks in their 80-62 victory.

Before the game, Magbegor explained her decision to sign the one-year, $186,000 fully-protected extension, sharing with reporters:

I think there’s been a lot of investment obviously in the facility. Just the professionalism of this team, I think, has really leveled up. That’s something I just want to be a part of it. Jewell committed for two years. Sky’s committed. The team’s committed, so I’m committed as well.

Pili signs Nike deal

Minnesota Lynx rookie Alissa Pili has signed an endorsement deal with Nike as an N7 athlete, the brand’s community impact category that supports Indigenous access to youth sports. On the endorsement opportunity, Pili said:

I’m so honored to join the Nike Family as a Nike N7 athlete. Representation is important to me, and I look forward to making an impact in the league and demonstrating to all the Indigenous and Polynesian girls who love the game, that they can reach their dreams.

More wins in Storrs for Geno

After securing the 1,200th win of his career, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma suggested, “I could probably say, with a great deal of certainty, that I’ll never be No. 1 in wins, I don’t think that will happen. And I’m still going to enjoy my wine and I’m going to sleep good tonight.”

Well Geno, it’s going to happen. With 1,213 wins, just three behind the recently-retired Tara VanDerveer’s all-time NCAA Division I mark of 1,216 victories, Auriemma appears destined not just to pass VanDerveer early next season, but also to establish a near-unbreakable record. The 70-year-old Auriemma signed a five-year contract extension with UConn, indicating he’ll be collecting wins in Storrs through the end of the 2029 season.