Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker was actually cut from two teams last week.
On Wednesday, U.S. women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma confirmed reports that Parker, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, didn’t make the team for Rio. Barely an hour earlier, U.S. Olympic Committee sponsor Budweiser revealed she’d been taken off Team Budweiser, too.
Just two days before, SportsBusiness Journal reported that Bud had signed Parker to Team Budweiser, a collection of seven Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls who will anchor the beer brand’s Rio Games marketing campaign. Parker was on a promotional photo, ready to go.
But after word leaked that Parker failed to make the U.S. team, Bud issued a formal press release that identified Parker as merely an “ambassador,” specifically not including her on Team Budweiser and removing her from the promotional photo.
Budweiser officials did not respond to requests for comment. USA Basketball told NBC Sports that the selection committee was challenged by the U.S. team’s great depth at Parker’s forward position.
