Sue Bird & Tina Charles LAUGH as Caitlin Clark gets DESTROYED! Should Caitlin Clark Boycott Team USA?

The basketball world has always thrived on fierce debates, epic rivalries, and the emergence of new stars shaking up the establishment. This summer, the conversation has reached a fever pitch around one standout name: Caitlin Clark. The dazzling Indiana Fever rookie, with her unlimited range and jaw-dropping playmaking, has captured the hearts of fans on and off the court. But controversy has followed her just as closely as camera flashes. And now, a new flashpoint has arrived.

Recent clips show WNBA legends Sue Bird and Tina Charles sharing laughs over some of Clark’s rougher moments in the league—whether it’s the missed shots, bruising defense, or rookie mistakes. Some say it’s just good-natured ribbing from icons who paved the way. Others see it as thinly veiled schadenfreude—a smirk from the old guard as the new kid on the block gets humbled. But the fallout doesn’t stop there.

When Team USA announced its Olympic roster, one thing was missing: Caitlin Clark’s name. While the roster is stacked with talent—some expected, some less so—the omission of the most hyped rookie in a generation sent social media into a frenzy. The result? A groundswell of fans calling for Clark to boycott Team USA altogether, with some arguing that the snub was about more than basketball. They say it was a message from the establishment that Clark isn’t yet ‘one of them’—and might never be.

So, what’s really going on here? Why are veterans like Bird and Charles seemingly reveling in Clark’s struggles, what does the Olympic snub actually mean, and—most provocatively—should Caitlin Clark boycott Team USA?

THE LAUGHTER: A Generational Divide

To understand the reaction of Sue Bird and Tina Charles, you have to appreciate the context. Both are Olympic champions, league MVPs, and legends in a league that rarely gets the attention it deserves. Both played in an era marked by hard-nosed defense, teamwork, and—at least in their eyes—a battle for respect that Clark didn’t have to fight in the age of social media stardom.

When Bird and Charles laugh at Clark getting “destroyed”—whether it’s on a rough screen or a tough game—it’s about more than one player’s mistakes. It’s the satisfaction of seeing the hype meet reality, perhaps even a touch of ‘initiation,’ as if to say: “You want to join our club? You’d better pay your dues, kid.”

The laughter may sting, but it’s a rite of passage in virtually every sports league. Rookies get hazed, tested, and yes, laughed at. But the spectacle is greater with Clark because she isn’t just another rookie—she’s the face of a league-wide surge in popularity and she’s responsible for sold-out crowds and TV ratings not seen since the days of Lisa Leslie and Diana Taurasi in their prime.

THE SNUB: Why Caitlin Clark Didn’t Make Team USA

The Olympic roster is always a contentious topic. To be clear, the 2024 Team USA women’s basketball team isn’t missing a single star; household names like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Chelsea Gray are all locks. Diana Taurasi will likely play in her sixth Olympics. But while Clark’s absence is headline-grabbing, there are basketball reasons:

• Experience matters. International basketball is more physical, more strategic, and—frankly—less forgiving than the offensively-oriented college game. Clark, still ironing out her WNBA growing pains, is up against seasoned professionals playing at the height of their chemistry.
• Defensive woes. Clark’s critics point out that defense is her weak spot—something international competition punishes relentlessly.
• Team chemistry. Olympians prepare and play together in ways that are almost telepathic. Veterans, no strangers to the global stage, offer more than just scoring.

But let’s be honest. The snub has as much to do with the politics of team building and league reputation as basketball skills. The old guard knows what it takes to win gold. They also know that a rookie who garners more attention than all of them combined can be a lightning rod—for better or worse.

THE CALL TO BOYCOTT: Should Clark Refuse to Play for Team USA?

Social media has been ablaze with fans demanding that Caitlin Clark refuse any future Team USA call-ups, viewing her exclusion as a clear case of jealousy or anti-hype sentiment. “Clark deserves better!” some claim. “Let her prove them wrong by denying them her star power!”

But what would a boycott actually achieve?

• For Clark: It’s a high-risk move. Refusing to play for your country could damage her carefully cultivated image as a humble, hard-working player—and make her look like she puts herself above the game.
• For Team USA: They’d lose out on the media frenzy Clark brings, but their gold-medal odds likely wouldn’t change much. The women’s team is a juggernaut, with or without her.
• For women’s basketball: The league is finally cresting a new wave of popularity, in large part because fresh faces like Clark and Angel Reese are shaking things up. Drawing battle lines only divides fans further and casts a shadow over the unity the league desperately needs to maintain progress.

The most compelling argument is that ‘boycott’ talk is premature. Clark herself has shown nothing but grace, saying she’s focused on improving, supporting Team USA, and respecting the legends she admires. That’s class—a currency that ultimately lasts longer than any media campaign.

THE REAL STORY: Growing Pains, Not Grudges

Let’s be clear: Sue Bird and Tina Charles know talent. Their laughter isn’t about dismissing Clark, but teasing the narrative that one gifted scorer can bypass the trials everyone else endured. Clark’s moment will come—and she seems wise enough to know it.

Leaving her off Team USA this cycle just gives her another mountain to climb. And if anything, that’s where Caitlin Clark is at her best: as an underdog with something to prove, burning to rewrite her own story.

In the end, the most compelling rivalry in women’s basketball isn’t Clark vs. Bird, or Old vs. New. It’s the fight for the future of the league—a future that has room for both respect for veterans and the uncontainable promise of the next generation.

If Caitlin Clark keeps her focus, steely drive, and humility, she’s bound for Team USA—on her terms, in her time. And that’s worth more than any viral moment.

So don’t expect a boycott. Expect greatness—eventually. That’s how legends are made.