The Reason Why Candace Parker Did Not Make the Olympic Team
- By Shorty
- Apr 28, 2016
- 2 min read
The USA Women's Basketball team was announced on the TODAY show early yesterday morning. The roster will feature veteran members such as Sue Bird. Diana Taurasi, and Tamika Catchings followed by first-time members Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, and Breanna Stewart. What is causing an uproar among fans (and players) is the omission of veteran member Candace Parker who was left off the 2016 Olympic team. There has been so much speculation as to why she was left off the roster. However, we have an official statement from one of the committee members to explain their reasoning.
On Monday, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN LA was the first to announce that Candace Parker did not make the team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Many have speculated that bias within the basketball community came into play as the Women's National team coach Geno Auriemma, who is also coach of the UConn Huskies wanted to further his Connecticut pedigree by removing Parker in favor of former UConn star Breanna Stewart. Others have said that Nike is also a factor being a sponsor of Team USA, wanting to add their sponsored athletes on the roster, making Parker the odd woman out. Candace Parker is sponsored by Adidas.
After the announcement was made, one of the committee members and national team director Carol Callan via NBC Sports stated that "Candace Parker plays a position that’s “the strength of” the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team". Which means the F/C position was stacked and they had to make a choice between Parker, Delle Donne. and Stewart, the decision was made to leave Parker off the team. My thoughts are Candace Parker should have made the team, I understand she plays in a position that is loaded, but she should've had the upper hand being apart of the team in 2008 and 2012. People are right to call out basketball bias, Stewart will be great at WNBA level in the future, but she should have NOT made the team over Candace Parker (Just My Opinion). As for Nike's role in the whole ordeal I mean it could be so, but I don't buy it. Maya Moore who was selected on the Olympic team is sponsored by Jordan Brand (subsidiary to Nike) but the notion of Nike only wanting their athletes on the roster is absolutely ridiculous.
All hope isn't lost for Candace, she could very well make the team in case of injury. but I personally wouldn't want that to happen. I can imagine the feeling was terrible when she got the call a week prior that she didn't make the team. This will give Candace extra motivation to not only play well, but to hopefully have another MVP type season this summer.
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