Caitlin Clark handed shock Olympics lifeline with key Team USA star facing race against time to be fit

Caitlin Clark may be in with a chance of going to the Olympic Games after all as one of Team USA's key players continues to struggle with an injury problem.

Clark, the No 1 pick in this year's WNBA Draft, was controversially left out of Cheryl Reeve's primary roster for this summer's Games in Paris despite her record-breaking college success with Iowa and her strong start to life in the big leagues with Indiana.

The 22-year-old was instead named as an alternate, meaning she is one of the first in line should a Team USA player have to withdraw from the roster.

And with Diana Taurasi currently battling a leg injury, the door could yet be open for Clark to receive a shock late call-up to the Olympic squad.

Six-time Olympian and Phoenix Mercury guard Taurasi, one of Reeve's most important players heading into the Games this summer, has missed her team's last four WNBA games with the issue.

She is also unavailable for the Mercury's game against Clark and the Fever on Friday, meaning her chances of making it to Paris are in doubt.

Given she operates in the same position, Clark would be the most obvious replacement for Taurasi should she lose her race against time to be fit.

Reeve sparked outrage by leaving the Fever sensation out of her Olympic roster this summer, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy branding the USA officials behind the decision 'dumb women'.

'Hey dummies,' Portnoy raged in a video on social media. 'For the first time in the history of basketball, you have arguably the player who is the most popular player in the world.

'You can argue that Caitlin Clark is the most popular, most puts-a**es-in-the-seats, single basketball player in the world. You can argue that. And you leave her off the Olympics team?'

Clark brought unprecedented attention to women's basketball in her college days with Iowa and is already bringing new eyeballs to the sport in the WNBA, with a number of rival teams moving their games against Indiana to bigger stadiums to accommodate the increased demand.

After previously drawing criticism for suggesting she is not ready for the big leagues, Taurasi was full of praise for Clark after Phoenix's loss to Indiana last month.

'It’s amazing what Caitlin’s been able to do in her short career so far,' the 42-year-old said. 'It’s been nothing short of remarkable.

'What she’s done for the game has been pretty incredible and [having] that momentum coming out of college, eyes on you for four years straight.'

When fit, Taurasi has continued to show why she is one of the most talented players in the WNBA this season, averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Clark, meanwhile, is averaging 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game, with her superb start rewarded by inclusion in the WNBA All-Star Game.