Caitlin Clark’s omission from the U.S. women’s team at the Paris Olympics generated some controversy, especially after she took the WNBA by storm in her rookie season.

Caitlin Clark's Absence From Paris Olympics 3x3 Team Explained by ESPN Analyst | National Sports | starlocalmedia.com

But the Indiana Fever guard’s absence from the 3×3 team might be a bit more easily explained.

The sport is new to the Summer Games this season, with both American teams struggling in the different format. The men’s team failed to advance to the medal round, while the women overcame a 0-3 start to the Olympics to win the bronze medal.

In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on August 5, ESPN’s Brian Windorst explained that FIBA, the governing body for international basketball, wants the new format to be a level ground for teams without strong basketball programs otherwise.

As Windhorst explained, that’s why FIBA made it difficult for players to qualify to compete in 3×3 at the Paris Olympics.

“They really want that to be for countries that can’t field five-on-five teams. And so they do all these things, like they have all these different layers and layers and layers of things that you have to do to qualify. I don’t just mean the team. I’m talking about like … Kyrie Irving can’t just show up and play. The only way you can play is if you like play in like 15 qualifying events. It’s not 15, I’m just coming up with that number.”

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) passes the ball past Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (2) during the second half at College Park Center.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) passes the ball past Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (2) during the second half at College Park Center.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

For a player like Clark, who jumped right from college basketball to the WNBA with little time off in between, it would have been nearly impossible to qualify to play in 3×3 in the Olympics, Windhorst explained.

“That was something Caitlin Clark could have done,” Windhorst continued. “Now she may not have wanted to do it, but if Caitlin Clark played can you imagine what that would have been like? But there were like 15 hoops she had to jump through. Because FIBA doesn’t care about ratings. They just care about you know like growing the game elsewhere outside the US so that’s not their priority.”