Comments offThe upcoming 2024 Olympics have sparked significant discussions in the basketball community, particularly regarding Caitlin Clark and Brittney Griner. Recent reports circulating online suggested that Caitlin Clark secured a spot on the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team while Brittney Griner faced disqualification due to her actions during the national anthem. However, these claims have been debunked.
Griner and Clark were among 14 players invited to an Olympic training camp in Cleveland, Ohio, in April. While Clark expressed her aspirations to join the team in the future, she acknowledged that her journey towards an Olympic debut continues. This clarification dispels the misleading information circulating on social media and certain websites
The rumors about Griner’s supposed disqualification were tied to her stance during the national anthem. Griner, known for her advocacy and willingness to use her platform for social issues, previously took a knee during the anthem, a gesture that sparked widespread debate. The false claims suggested that this act of protest led to her being removed from the Olympic team, citing supposed misconduct. However, these assertions were proven false. USA Basketball has confirmed that Griner remains a member of the 2024 Women’s National Team and will compete in the Paris Olympics.
The spread of misinformation regarding Clark and Griner highlights the significant role social media plays in shaping public perception. The false narrative was propagated by various posts, including one from a Caitlin Clark fan page, falsely claiming that Griner was ousted from the team to make way for Clark. These posts lacked credible sources and were not corroborated by official announcements from USA Basketball.