Cleveland, OH
Dawn Staley offers insightful commentary on Caitlin Clark's Olympic snub
In the run-up to the Paris Olympics, the media was saturated with contentious arguments about Caitlin Clark’s omission from the U.S. women’s basketball team. The debate devolved into a pointless back-and-forth, exploited for cultural warfare.
The debate centered on the paradox of Clark being both highly qualified and overlooked. While arguments were rooted in both basketball performance and external factors, the discussion spiraled into a full-blown media frenzy. That saw the likes of Stephen A. Smith, Colin Cowherd, and Tony Kornheiser vehemently criticize Team USA for passing on such a significant marketing opportunity, let alone talent.
As other sports media figures suggested, NBC could have capitalized on Clark’s popularity by hiring her as an analyst if ratings/marketing were a primary concern. However, other considerations likely influenced the decision, and it might have proved challenging to justify overlooking established WNBA players who have already cut their teeth in professional basketball and with Team USA.
In any event, the discourse ultimately reached its plateau, as Clark’s going to Paris wasn’t in the cards. But that discourse has come back to life, thanks in part to NBC’s Mike Tirico, who asked South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, a member of the USWNT selection committee, about her read on Clark being left off the team.
“As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players — the best talent,” she said.
“Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA; she wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now. If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people.
“Shooting the ball extremely well; I mean, she is an elite passer. She’s just got a great basketball IQ. And she’s a little more seasoned in the pro game in a couple of months than she was two months ago.”
Dawn Staley, a member of the USWNT selection committee, asked about Caitlin Clark.
“If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people.” pic.twitter.com/hMYqTsPWzc
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 28, 2024
It shouldn’t be surprising that Staley handled this situation with grace and offered insightful perspective on Clark’s significant growth since the initial snub. Whether her development is directly linked to the Olympic omission is irrelevant, but Staley’s acknowledgment highlights why she has such a high standing in women’s basketball.
Cleveland, OH
Wanted sex offender arrested at the same Cleveland home where missing Tennessee mother found dead
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – U.S. Marshals say a wanted sex offender was arrested early Friday morning at the same home where a missing Tennessee mother was found dead on July 3.
Matthew Hensley, 43, was wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department for failing to register his address after a conviction of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
“Today along with Cleveland Police SWAT, Deputy Sheriffs from Cuyahoga County and my Deputy Marshals, we hit that house and we found Hensley in that house hiding in a bench area and a wall and a secret compartment that he had constructed,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott
According to the U.S. Marshals, he had additional charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor from an indictment in 2022.
Law enforcement has been searching for Hensley for over two months, according to a release.
Hensley was featured on Cuyahoga’s Most Wanted on Thursday.
The task force said it received numerous tips about Hensley’s whereabouts all across the Cleveland area.
He was found hiding in a cabinet at a home located at 3490 Bosworth Road and taken into custody without incident.
On July 3, Amber Graham, 37, of Spring Hill, Tennessee, was found dead outside at the same address.
Police and fire personnel discovered her body covered in a sheet.
In the Cleveland police report connected to Graham’s death, Hensley is listed as a involved person.
Child found alone at fire station
Graham’s friend told 19 News she had brought her 8-year-old daughter with her on a trip to meet a man she had been communicating with through an online video game.
On July 1, the child walked into a Cleveland fire station alone.
Officials would not confirm the child’s relation to Graham but confirmed an 8-year-old did arrive at the fire station last week.
“They assessed her for any medical issues that she would have. She appeared uninjured, but she had a phone number in her pocket for her grandmother in Tennessee. It’s my understanding. But in that situation, we called police. They called Child Protective Services,” said Lt. Mike Norman of the Cleveland Fire Department.
A friend of the victim’s said the child was Graham’s.
Friends raise alarm
Joshua LaCroix, a friend of Graham’s who lives in Franklin, Tennessee, said Graham had told him and his wife she was planning the trip to Cleveland to meet a man she had connected with through a video game.
During the trip, Graham called LaCroix, saying he heard a man in the background who was angry with her.
“That was the last conversation that me and my wife had with her,” LaCroix said.
When Graham stopped responding, friends and family grew concerned.
“She never misses a shift. No one can reach her. Last thing we know, she was in Cleveland. So like, something’s not right. She’s supposed to be here at work and she’s not,” LaCroix said.
Graham’s family reported her missing to authorities on July 2.
Facebook group helps locate home
LaCroix said he reached out to a Cleveland Facebook page for help tracking down Graham. Members of the group identified a home they believed she may have visited.
“The police were able to get to the house and, you know, discover what they discovered,” LaCroix said.
LaCroix described Graham as someone who cared for others.
“She’s just a genuine person. And she’s a good person. She’s the kind of person who will care for you without much reason to do so,” he said.
Investigation ongoing
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner is investigating Graham’s cause of death. No arrests or charges have been made.
Cleveland police said they are awaiting the medical examiner’s ruling before potentially opening a criminal investigation.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -This week’s Cuyahoga’s Most Wanted features a Cleveland man on the run for failing to maintain his sex offender registry.
According to Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County, Matthew Hensley was convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in a 2002 case.
It’s reported his victim was under the age of 16-years-old.
He has failed to register, and failed to notify the sheriff’s department of his change of address.
He is now facing the following charges:
• Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
• Failure to provide notice of change of address
Hensley is 5’8” and 159 lbs. and has a tattoo of Jesus on his neck as well as a tribal dragon on his left arm and praying hands with roses on his right arm.
He was last known to be staying in the 1200 block of W. 65th Street in Cleveland.
If anyone knows where Hensley is, call Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County.
All calls to 216-252-7463 can remain completely anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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