Unfortunately this is part of the problem. There is a trend of thought that regardless of who the USA picks for the team it is not going to make a difference-USA will get gold. This fosters a lack of accountability from USA basketball in the selection process. When Syklar Diggins was cut USA basketball met with her to explain where she fell short. The 2016 omission of Parker was justifiable in simple basketball terms, i.e. there were better players at the position (Stewie and EDD) for the basketball things this team was trying to do: AKA
@meyers7 "pure" basketball explanation. In 2016 there was also a player (Catch) who was willing to take a lesser role. This lack of accountability by USA basketball created a void with people creating their own explanations citing unnamed teammates and anonymous sources. In search of an explanation Geno and the personality of Parker became the low hanging fruit for the lazy to harvest-neither of which should have had anything to do with the omission of Parker in 2016. Parker didn't suddenly have a personality transplant in 2016 and Geno had won gold with Parker being very productive in 2012.
Today there is still lack of accountability by USA basketball and the lazy have turned on Dawn. Neka has been a solid citizen so there is not much for the lazy to harvest with regards to her personality. But the lazy is never easily deterred so guilt by association (teammate of Parker and Amanda Zahui B-who had the nerve to push Pheesa) will have to suffice. The lazy have also determined there has to a UCONN angle to the omission of Neka-there isn't.
It appears from both Derek Fisher and Dawn's statements that there might have been some "miscalculation or miscommunication " on when Neka would be fully heathy that may have factored into the decision to exclude her. If that was truly the case that explanation should be coming from USA basketball not Dawn. Saying you miscalculated or miscommunicated will never fully satisfy the lazy but it does demonstrate some level of accountability which USA basketball is severely lacking.
Inquiry for USA basketball and USA basketball only: Please provide a basketball explanation as to why Ariel Atkins is on my 2020 Olympic team and Neka is not.