It’s not unusual for players in the WNBA or NBA to opt out of the olympics. Clark is not a big body and the OIC style of play is very physical. To get a “major draw” for the WNBA hurt in this type of competition will harm the financial investment of the league by bringing her into it and then losing time on the court from an injury in the olympics. Too much money, now and over the next few years, to lose for a rah rah situation like this.
People need to undertand that the sports part of this entertainment industry is long gone. So the league protects themselves by protecting their interest. And it isn’t much different with other professional businesses that are called sport. People don’t attend an amatuer competition that is supposed to be professional due to lack of talent. And the fans want success in their sports all the time and not mediocrity. And that level of success is determined by their talent and the selling of the club by representatives.
There is a history of lack of team success being overshadowed by the success of one or two players on the team. A perfect example for basketball was Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He was playing for them in 1984 on but their first championship wasn’t until 1991. He never averaged less than 22.7 a year and from 1986 till 1990 never less than 32.5. But he was what they had to sell. And he didn’t play in the 1988 olympic competition saying physical demand to the NBA schedule and his committment there was too taxing. The only difference there was he did it and not the league behind the scenes. Jordan learned his lesson in 1984. He came back in 1992 to help the NBA prove a point. And even Magic came out of retirement and Bird played in pain for that one for the same reason. But For Clark, it’s the golden goose theory. The league is in too much financial trouble to gamble an asset.
wy69
You mean their only asset.