Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink tore her ACL earlier this week, a devastating blow in every way for the young forward. Brink is in the early stages of her debut WNBA season and was selected for the U.S. 3×3 team earlier this summer, and her year has only gotten better as the Paris Olympics approach.
With Brinks injured, a spot in the 3×3 event needs to be filled, and the outcry over Caitlin Clark’s apparent removal from the U.S. women’s 5-on-5 team has led some to question loudly whether the standout guard will be able to replace the injured Brinks.
Positionally, it obviously doesn’t make sense since Brink plays on the block and protects the paint while Clark is an offensive maestro who regularly knocks down 30-foot jump shots, but there’s an argument to be made that Clark should be in Paris no matter what and everything else will take care of itself.
Unfortunately for those who believe so, it doesn’t matter: Clark is unqualified. Participate in the 2024 Paris Olympic 3×3 tournament.
How does this happen? The truth is, no aging basketball player, no matter how skilled they are, is going to make it onto the 3×3 Olympic team.
According to rules set by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), players can only compete in 3×3 competitions if they have a “minimum number of ranking points,” which are accumulated by participating in FIBA-sanctioned 3×3 tournaments leading up to the Olympics.
For example, Brink is eligible because she played in the 2023 FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Cup. By playing (and winning), she earned enough ranking points to make the U.S. Olympic team. As the U.S. looks to replace her, it should look to players who have earned ranking points, such as Brink’s teammate, Dearrica Hamby.
Clarke is therefore not on the shortlist to replace Brink or anyone else who may be unable to compete in the 3×3 tournament at the Paris Olympics.
