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Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on June 15, 2024 in a Facebook post: Caitlin Clark has been named to the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team after Brittney Griner was released for “undisclosed reasons.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") * Sports * Facebook Fact-checks * Threads posts ![\\"Ciara](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke June 21, 2024 # Caitlin Clark didn’t replace Brittney Griner on the Olympic team; that’s fake news #### If Your Time is short * This claim originated on a self-described satire page. Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark didn’t replace Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner on the U.S. women’s basketball team for the upcoming Summer Olympics. See the sources for this fact-check Basketball phenom Caitlin Clark, now with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, was not among the names on the roster for the 12-player U.S. women’s basketball team for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris. The decision drew the ire of some of Clark’s fans, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who called members of the USA Basketball selection committee \"imbeciles.\" But some recent social media posts claim that Clark has been newly tapped to join the team to replace Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner. \"Team USA had to release Britney Griner for undisclosed reasons, which some are interpreting as a rule violation related to her testosterone levels,\" a June 15 Facebook post said. \"Caitlin is in.\" \"Hot News,\" a June 16 Facebook post announced. \"Caitlin Clark punches her ticket to the 2024 Olympics, while Britney Griner faces disqualification. The Olympic landscape sees a dramatic shift as Clark secures her spot on the world stage.\" As we’ve previously reported: Griner is not a man. Also not true: that Griner has been cut and Clark named to the team. This post among others was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.) #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on July 29, 2024 in a post Video shows “thousands of Christians in France gathered to pray after Olympics opening mocked Jesus Christ.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Sara Swann • July 30, 2024 Griner is still listed on USA Basketball’s women’s team roster for the Olympics. Clark is not. This claim originated on the Facebook page of a self-described satire account, America’s Last Line of Defense. The account’s creator, Christopher Blair, has said its posts are satire intended to mock conservatives, The New York Times recently reported. \"I’m a liberal troll social justice warrior serving satirical nonsense with a mission,\" Blair told the Times. \"TEAM USA: ‘Brittney Griner is OUT - Caitlin Clark is IN,’\" the June 14 post said. \"Team USA had to release Britney Griner for ‘undisclosed reasons,’ which some are interpreting as a rule violation related to her testosterone levels.\" The catch: The account has a caveat. \"Nothing on this page is real,\" it says. But the Facebook posts resharing the story did not include any disclaimers. We rate claims that Clark replaced Griner on the Olympic women’s basketball team for \"undisclosed reasons\" False. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Facebook post, June 16, 2024 Facebook post, June 15, 2024 Facebook post, June 14, 2024 PolitiFact, No, basketball star Brittney Griner is not a man, Aug. 9, 2022 The Athletic, Caitlin Clark left off U.S. Olympic team; A’Ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi headline roster, June 11, 2024 Fox News, Ted Cruz calls out Caitlin Clark Olympic snub after WNBA records most-watched game in 23 years, June 19, 2024 USA Basketball women’s olympic basketball team roster, visited June 21, 2024 The New York Times, Fake news still has a home on Facebook, June 13, 2024 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Ciara O\'Rourke slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on July 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: “Police found human remains and evidence of cannibalism” at Oprah Winfrey’s home. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 7, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 3, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Michael Jordan rejects $400 million Disney offer, stating, ‘I do not collaborate with companies aligned with woke ideologies.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 7, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on July 31, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Scientists at Exeter University have reconstructed this 3D model of how Moses might have looked.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 7, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 17, 2024 in a Facebook post: Video shows former President Donald Trump thought he was in North Carolina while he spoke in Pennsylvania. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 22, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 19, 2024 in a Threads post: “PA Gov Josh Shapiro isn’t attending the DNC at all.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 21, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 19, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Travis Kelce kneels during national anthem fined $10 million and thrown out of the game.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 21, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on August 19, 2024 in an X post: Democrats dyed the “Chicago River red to celebrate abortion.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 20, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 14, 2024 in a Facebook post: Actor Mel Gibson told talk show host Oprah Winfrey, “You sell children!” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 19, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 7, 2024 in an Instagram post: Says Elon Musk posted on X, “Any harassment of Trump supporters using the term ‘weird’ will be punished.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 15, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on August 10, 2024 in a Threads post: Video shows former President Donald Trump freezing up. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 14, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 8, 2024 in a Facebook post: Says Minnesota Gov. 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Caitlin Clark has been named to the US women’s Olympic basketball team after Brittney Griner was released for undisclosed reasons