Caitlin Clark DESERVES a spot on Olympic roster, insists Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin as he weighs in on Team USA snub

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said Caitlin Clark 'deserves' a spot on Team USA's Olympics roster because she 'transformed' women's basketball. 

The private equity CEO turned politician, who attended Rice University on a basketball scholarship, said it's 'really crazy' the Fever superstar was left out of the squad for this summer's games in Paris.

'At the end of the day, nobody can deny the fact that she has completely transformed fans' interest and enthusiasm for women's basketball,' he said on Monday's episode of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.

He went on to cite the fact the Washington Mystics moved their upcoming game against Clark's team from their 4200-seat home arena to the Capital One Arena. 

'Caitlin Clark comes to town and they move [the game] to the Capital One that seats 20,000 people and they sell it out. That's all Caitlin Clark, she deserves a spot on the team,' he went on. 

'This isn't a knock against any of the other players, they're all fabulous players,' he insisted, adding, 'there have been rookies who have made the Olympic team before like Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker. 

'She is transforming women's basketball and she should have a spot on the team.' 

The shock call to omit her from the team has sparked outrage amongst fans and analysts alike, with Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe accusing Team USA chiefs of 'idiocy.'

'You know good and damn well that with or without Caitlin Clark they're gonna probably win the gold again. That's not what this conversation is about,' Smith said on ESPN's First Take.

'This is about what I will personally label the idiocy of Team USA women's basketball. How dare you make this decision? It's stupid. And I'm gonna tell you why it's stupid.

'I want all the ladies on this squad to know, every single one of y'all are deserving on it. Caitlin Clark does not deserve a spot ahead of any of the players on this roster... if we're talking just basketball! You know we're not!'

He went on, 'This girl is box office. I said a rising tide lifts all boats; especially if you're Team USA and you're trying to be globalized and there's an opportunity to globalize the WNBA brand, so people like Brittney Griner and others don't have to go to Russia in the offseason to play basketball to get additional income...

Clark, for her part, addressed the news over the weekend, with fans heaping praise on the 22-year-old for her 'classy' response to the decision.

'I'm excited for the girls that are on the team,' the No 1 Draft pick said on Sunday, insisting she will be rooting for the team this summer. 

'I know it's the most competitive team in the world and I know it could've gone either way, me being on the team or me not being on the team,' she continued.

'I'm excited for them, gonna be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, it'll be fun to watch them.'