The No. 1 overall pick spoke on Sunday and confirmed that she did not make the team for Paris
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Fever coach Christie Sides spoke on Sunday for the first time since news broke that the No. 1 overall pick had not made Team USA’s final roster for the 2024 Olympics in Paris next month. While Clark was as even-keeled as always in her reaction, Sides gave away her star’s immediate reaction to the news.
“She got the call on the bus and she texted me to let me know and I just tried to keep her spirits up,” Sides said. “The thing she said was ‘hey coach, they woke a monster,’ which I thought was awesome.”
An official roster announcement is not expected until Tuesday, but news of Clark’s omission came out shortly after midnight on Saturday, and the full roster followed a few hours later. As expected, the team is made up of MVPs, All-WNBA stalwarts and future Hall of Famers, including A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, and Napheesa Collier, just to name a few.
Team USA may have ‘woke a monster’ by not picking Caitlin Clark for Olympics – The Athletic
The level of talent and experience — no players are younger than 26 — is one of the main reasons Clark said she had “no disappointment” about not making the cut.
“I’m excited for the girls that are on the team,” Clark said. “I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way of me being on the team, me not being on the team. I’m excited for them, gonna be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid who grew up watching the Olympics, so it’ll be fun to watch them.
“I think it just gives you something to work for. It’s a dream, hopefully one day I can be there and I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that and hopefully in four years I can be there.”
Clark was invited to the most recent training camp in April, which would have been her first experience with the senior national team, but was unable to participate due to the Final Four. Even so, she gave herself a real chance to make the squad with an impressive start to her rookie campaign.
There have been times where she’s struggled with the physicality, however, and she also leads the league in turnovers at 5.6 per game. Those factors, combined with the talent and experience ahead of her, appear to be the reason she failed to make the cut. Per USA Today’s Christine Brennan, Team USA veterans were also concerned about how Clark’s legion of fans would react if she was selected but received limited playing time.
Clark did not get into any specifics regarding the decision, but she did say that USA Basketball called to deliver the news before it leaked on social media.
If there’s a silver lining for Clark, it’s that she’ll finally get a break when the WNBA pauses for the Olympics. She’s been playing essentially nonstop since her senior season at Iowa began in October. Once the Fever wrap up their pre-Olympic schedule July 17, they won’t play again until Aug. 16.
“Yeah, absolutely [I’m looking forward to a break],” Clark said. “It’s gonna be really nice. I’ve loved competing at every single second, but it’s gonna be a great month for me and my body to first of all get rest and get healthy and get a little time away from basketball and the craziness of everything that’s been going on. Just find some peace and quiet for myself.”
There is still a slight possibility that Clark could make the team as an injury replacement. Notably, Chelsea Gray was selected but has not played in a game in eight months due to a foot injury and it’s unclear when she’ll be back. As one of the best playmakers in the world, Clark could be next in line if the veteran point guard isn’t healthy in time.
Of course, that’s a big “if,” and while Clark said it would be a “great opportunity,” she’s focused on the Fever and trying to climb out of 11th place.
“If USA Basketball needs something, I have a great relationship with them, but the 12 they have selected are really great players so I think they’re in pretty great hands,” Clark said. “Cheryl [Reeve] is a great coach, the selection committee did a really good job.”
News
SUITE SURPRISE Bachelorette fans think Jenn Tran slipped up and revealed ‘secret fling’ with Pete Davidson after Devin’s Fantasy Suite
Plus, Bachelorette fans rage over yet another schedule change ahead of the finale BACHELORETTE fans have been convinced Jenn Tran and Pete Davidson had a secret fling after Monday’s Fantasy Suite episode. During the show, Jenn and finalist Devin, a…
DEEP WOUND Mariah Carey admitted it was ‘safer’ to have no contact with her brother and sister before Alison’s tragic death
Alison Carey, 63, died on the same day as Mariah’s mother Patricia, 87, the singer confirmed MARIAH Carey reflected on her complicated relationships with her siblings years before sister Alison Carey’s tragic death. On Monday, Mariah, 55, announced that her mother Patricia Carey,…
MARIAH’S PAIN From being offered cocaine & ‘pimped out’ by sister aged 12 to sick arson attacks – Mariah Carey’s traumatic family life
The star hit rock bottom in 2001, saying she was ‘broken down by the very people who were supposed to keep me whole’ WHEN Mariah Carey’s mom and sister both died this weekend the pop legend had to be careful…
MOVING ON Ben Affleck looks happier than ever during fast food run after he was spotted with Kick Kennedy following split from JLo
BEN Affleck has been spotted showing off his smile during an outing after his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. The actor stopped for fast food in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday. 6 Ben Affleck smiling ear to ear while ordering fast…
SUPER BUMP Nicki Minaj shares pregnancy photos in new Gag City Reloaded album announcement leaving fans confused
And why some fans weren’t too thrilled to see Nicki posing with her husband NICKI Minaj has been promoting the upcoming release of her Pink Friday 2: Gag City Reloaded deluxe album with a mix of current and former pregnancy photos. The…
IT’S A WASH Channing Tatum slammed for his ‘disgusting’ and ‘wasteful’ laundry habit in failed ‘attempt to seem relatable’
Fans recently expressed concern for Channing after he shared several bizarre selfies online CHANNING Tatum has been slammed for his wasteful laundry habit in what critics have called a failed attempt to seem relatable. The Don’t Blink star opened up…
End of content
No more pages to load