The major sports news on Saturday was the controversy surrounding the exclusion of Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark from the United States women’s basketball team for the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France.
Among the many advocates who feel WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark should be included in Team USA for the 2024 Olympics is an HBCU coach.
North Carolina Central University men’s basketball coach LeVelle Moton, who previously worked with USA Basketball in 2015 and 2019, made a case on X, formerly known as Twitter, explaining why adding Clark to the Olympic roster would benefit the USA women’s team both on and off the court.
“The NBA’s brand went ‘GLOBAL’ in ’92 with The Dream Team!! They didn’t assemble that team to win…That was a “Business” move to introduce the WORLD to our most marketable NBA STARS,” Moton posted Saturday afternoon. “It 4ever changed the Economic landscape. IMO, WNBA should take Caitlin to grow Global Brand!”
When a poster asked how Clark could help if she wouldn’t see much playing time, Moton responded, ”It’s called ‘Cultural Expansion’…If the WNBA can secure Modern Globalization especially with China, that’s more $$$ for their brand. If a player from China enters the [WNBA] because of CC’s popularity, do you know what that does for the economy of the league? (Yao Ming)”
Another poster mentioned that Clark wouldn’t make the team over Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi, who will be seeking a record sixth gold medal. Moton countered that Taurasi’s inclusion was a personal choice.
“Those decisions are PERSONAL….Im strictly Tweeting for the BUSINESS!!,” he said. “Those ladies deserve to be PAID!”
LeVelle Moton began his coaching career at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 2009, leading the men’s basketball team. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in the program’s history.
During the 2023-24 season, Moton became the all-time winningest coach in the history of NCCU men’s basketball.
