Fisher referenced the fact that in July 2019, Ogwumike was named as one of eight players who committed to participate in USA Basketball training and competition in 2019-20, rather than go overseas.
She has taken part in every USA Basketball training or competition event over the last several years, including being on the 2014 and 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup teams that won gold medals.
The core players named in 2019 had the opportunity to earn about $100,000 for their USA Basketball participation during the 2019-20 period.
“I don’t know what else a player is supposed to do,” Fisher said.
coach Dawn Staley, who is not on the selection committee, indicated Monday that Ogwumike’s current knee injury played a large role in her not making the team.
If it was four weeks, that could still get Ogwumike back on court the first week of July, several days before USA training camp begins in Las Vegas around July 13.
“You can try to throw the injury out there if you want to; I’m calling BS on that, too,” Fisher said.
women’s team, which has won six consecutive gold medals and last lost in Olympic play in 1992, there are always snubs every Olympic cycle because the talent pool is so big.
Neither was Ogwumike, who ended up being the season MVP while Parker was WNBA Finals MVP in 2016 as the Sparks won the league championship.
Ogwumike didn’t get consideration for her MVP performance that year because the Olympic team was selected in late April 2016, before the WNBA season started.
The 2016 Olympic team election was two months earlier than this year, even though the Rio Games were held two weeks later in the year than the Tokyo Games will be.
Ogwumike has been one of the most prominent WNBA figures off the court for her role as president of the executive committee for the players union.
With Ogwumike turning 31 next week, this might be her final chance to make the Olympic squad, although there are three players on the team this year who are 35 or older: Seattle’s Sue Bird .
“I think it’s going to be tough, because she’s always asked to be the one to take it on the chin and take the high road,” he said of her past omissions from the Olympic team.
“What makes her unique and really special is she does have that inner strength and fortitude.