INDIANAPOLIS — There’s hardly a team that Caitlin Clark hasn’t played for in her life.
Team USA’s Olympic team is one of them.
Indiana Fever head coach Christy Sides revealed after practice Sunday that they were with the team when Clark, the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader and the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, recently found out she wasn’t making the varsity team. The U.S. team on the bus for the Paris Olympics.
Her reaction?
“‘Hey, coach, they woke up a monster,'” Sides said, reciting Clark’s words.
#Indianamania HC Christie Sides said they were in the car when Caitlin Clark found out she didn’t make the U.S. team. Clark then told her, “Hey Coach, they woke up a monster.”
I asked Sides how many more “monsters” needed to be awakened.
“That’s scary, right?” | @TheAthleticWBB pic.twitter.com/3egzCyJBA8
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 9, 2024
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Clark is not one of the 12 players selected, although the official roster has not yet been announced, according to sources informed of the decision on Saturday. Clark confirmed the decision on Sunday, saying she recently received a call from USA Basketball asking her first Olympic experience to have to wait.
“Honestly, I’m not disappointed,” Clark said. “I think it just gives you some opportunities to work. That’s a dream. Hopefully I can get there one day.
“I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully four years from now, when four years come back, I can be there.
Only four players have made an Olympic team in the same year they finished their college careers: Diana Taurasi in 2004, Candace Parker and Sylvia Falls in 2008, and Brianna in 2016 ·Stewart.
More from #IndianamaniaCaitlin Clark on not making the Olympic roster:
“There are still a lot of positive things going on during my time off. …”
When asked if she would play as an injury replacement, she said it would be “a great opportunity” but would not comment.
“A lot of what ifs.” pic.twitter.com/sjIiONLsAr
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 9, 2024
After giving up on the 22-year-old Clark, the US men’s basketball team finally leaned towards a more experienced and accomplished lineup, including Taurasi, Stewart, Aja Wilson, Brittany Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Nafissa Collier, Jewell Lloyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Chelsea Gray and Kaalia Cooper. The youngest players in the group are Ionescu and Young, both 26 years old. Ionescu was a two-time All-Star and two-time WNBA Second Team All-Pro, while Young was also a two-time All-Star. He was named to the WNBA All-Pro Second Team last year and was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2022.
Clark is well aware of the talent and merit of the players selected and calls this Olympic team “the most competitive team in the world.” The 12-female roster has a combined total of 18 championship rings, 4 league MVPs, 7 Finals MVPs, 42 All-WNBA selections and 55 All-Star selections. Team USA is also 70-3 in the Olympics, having not lost an Olympic game since 1992 and a championship game since 2006. gold medal, which would break a tie with the men’s team (1936-1968) for the most consecutive Olympic team gold medals in history.
“We all know how talented this team is,” Clark said. “You look at that roster, (there are) a lot of guys that I’ve had a chance to play (against) in this league, they’re all really good and I know they’re going to be dominant there and I’m going to be watching them and rooting for them. .This will be interesting.
When asked if she would consider joining the team as an injury replacement, Clark said it would be “a great opportunity” but she would not take a position. She added that the U.S. team is already “in good hands” with the 12 players it originally selected.
While Clark said she was excited to see her compatriots, her coach made it clear that the self-proclaimed “monster” would rather compete with them.
Caitlin Clark shared a message with Fever head coach Christie Sides after finding out she didn’t make the USA Women’s Basketball Olympic roster 😤
through @RomeovilleKid pic.twitter.com/5b8DqCmQ0Z
— The Athlete (@TheAthletic) June 9, 2024
“It’s scary, right?” Sides said of Clark using her Olympic absence as motivation. “She’s one of the most competitive people I know. But she’s a worker and that’s what she’s going to do. This gives her another opportunity to get in the gym and do more exercise.
Clark averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 12 games in the WNBA. She led all rookies in points per game, field goals made, three-pointers made, free throws made and minutes played, and was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month for May.
On June 2, Clark scored just three points in a loss to New York (the lowest points of her college and WNBA career), and five days later she hit a career-high seven three-pointers to tie the game. Tied a career high. It’s still not all plain sailing for Clark, who’s shooting just 37.3 percent from the field and leading the league in turnovers with 5.6 per game.
Even before her career began, Clark was one of 14 players invited to the U.S. National Team’s final training camp in Cleveland in April before the Summer Olympics. The rookie may have a better chance of making the Olympic team if she competes directly with or against players in the pool. However, although Clark was in Cleveland at the time, she was unable to attend training camp due to Iowa’s advance to the Final Four. The Hawkeyes ultimately lost to undefeated South Carolina in the national championship game.
Although her stellar college career and highly anticipated pro debut quickly took a turn, Clark still wanted to represent her country in the Olympics. But she’s not complaining about needing a mid-season pause to recharge and refocus after the Heat’s shocking start. Indiana played 11 games in 19 days to start the season, its most condensed schedule since Washington played 11 games in 20 days in 2007. The Fever will play their final game before the Olympic break on July 17 in Dallas and will face Phoenix at home on August 17.
“It’s going to be really cool,” Clark said of the anticipated break. “I’m loving every second of the game, but it’s going to be a great month for my body, first of all, getting some rest and staying healthy, and then getting a little bit away from basketball and all the crazy stuff that’s going on, and then it’ll be okay .
“But other than that, it’s a good opportunity for us to work and get better.”
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(Photo: G Fiume/Getty Images)
