There was a huge uproar among fans when their beloved star Caitlin Clark was omitted from the Olympic team this year. Coming into the WNBA, the 22-year-old had eclipsed the legendary Pete Maravich as the all-time highest scorer in men’s and women’s basketball. Plus, her fan following, according to many, could have brought a lot of attention to USA basketball on a global stage. Unfortunately, South Carolina head coach and USA Basketball selection committee member Dawn Staley did not think so, and taking her views along with those of other committee members, the No. 22 wasn’t allowed to wear the trademark jersey in red and blue. However, ESPN has recently come to the fore to put mud on any issues, if any, between Clark and Staley.

On Monday, USA Today’s reporter Dan Wolken shared in an article that basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli feels that instead of having a hate relationship, Staley and Clark should have love for each other as the two did similar things for basketball. “She and Caitlin have a lot of similarities in that they have both crossed over the sports media landscape into the mainstream media… They are stories wherever they go. Not every women’s basketball coach or player can say that,” Antonelli opined who used to commentate during Staley’s games with the Charlotte Sting.

Much like Clark, Staley is a powerhouse in basketball. During her playing days in the NCAA, the Pennsylvania-born bagged the Naismith College Player of the Year twice. Then she is also a 3X gold medal winner in the Olympics as a player. No surprise that Staley is also a 6X WNBA All-Star.

Then, when the former Charlotte Sting star was made the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks, she helped the team to 3X NCAA titles. Additionally, she was also awarded the 4X USBWA National Coach of the Year. To top that, she has mentored some of the greatest basketball stars who have their own legacy, such as A’ja Wilson and Kamilla Cardoso. Hence, much like Clark, Staley has done a lot in bringing basketball to mainstream media. And if her decision regarding Clark could have caused any rift, it would have died down once she accepted her mistake.

Dawn Staley admits her mistake in Caitlin Clark’s selection

When Clark came into the league, she spent her initial days adjusting to the W. Therefore, the initial performances of her team weren’t good enough as they kept on losing games. Hence, in June, when the USA team was announced, she wasn’t included in it. But things changed after the Olympics break. Clark formed a strong backcourt with Kelsey Mitchell and with the help of players namely Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and others, she showed her potential. It was then that Staley regretted her decision.

As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players, the best talent… Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now. If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people,” Staley said in an interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico.

As the W regular season came to an end this year, Clark had won the ROTY. She had broken the single-season assists maker record while having the most points by a W rookie. Then the logo-three Queen also had the highest threes in the season, standing only next to Sabrina Ionescu in the single-season highest three-pointers list. Even when Team USA played in Paris, there were Clark’s fans present with her jerseys.

Therefore, since Stanley admitted her mistake, maybe things would have been better between her and Clark. And if not, then the latest statement from Antonelli comes as a fresh way to rekindle any lost love.