INDIANAPOLIS — There are few groups, if any, Caitlin Clark hasn’t made in her life.
Crew USA’s Olympic crew is one among them.
Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides revealed Sunday after follow that they had been on the crew bus when Clark — the NCAA’s all-time main scorer and the No. 1 choose within the 2024 Draft — just lately discovered that she didn’t make the reduce to signify the U.S. on the Paris Olympics.
Her response?
“’Hey, coach, they woke a monster,’” Sides mentioned, reciting Clark.
#IndianaFever HC Christie Sides mentioned they had been on the bus when Caitlin Clark discovered she didn’t make Crew USA. Clark then informed her, “Hey coach, they woke a monster.”
I requested Sides how rather more “monster” there may be to get up.
“That’s fairly scary, proper?” | @TheAthleticWBB pic.twitter.com/3egzCyJBA8
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 9, 2024
Free, day by day sports activities updates direct to your inbox. Enroll
Free, day by day sports activities updates direct to your inbox. Enroll
Purchase
Though an official roster has but to be introduced, Clark was not one of many 12 gamers chosen, sources briefed on the choice mentioned Saturday. Clark confirmed the choice Sunday, saying she just lately obtained a name from USA Basketball that her first Olympic expertise must wait.
“Truthfully, no disappointment,” Clark mentioned. “I believe it simply provides you one thing to work for. That’s a dream. Hopefully someday I will be there.
“I believe it’s just a bit extra motivation. You keep in mind that. Hopefully in 4 years, when 4 years comes again round, I will be there.”
Solely 4 gamers have ever made the Olympic crew the identical yr they completed their faculty careers: Diana Taurasi in 2004, Candace Parker and Sylvia Fowles in 2008, and Breanna Stewart in 2016.
Extra from #IndianaFever’s Caitlin Clark on not making the Olympic roster:
“There’s nonetheless lots of positives within the time that I’m gonna have off. …”
Requested if she’d play as an harm alternative, she mentioned it might be “a fantastic alternative” however was noncommittal.
“A number of ifs.” pic.twitter.com/sjIiONLsAr
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 9, 2024
In passing on the 22-year-old Clark, USA Basketball in the end leaned towards a extra veteran and achieved roster that includes Taurasi, Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Younger, Sabrina Ionescu, Chelsea Grey and Kahleah Copper. The youngest gamers in that group are Ionescu and Younger, who’re each 26. Ionescu is a two-time All-Star and two-time All-WNBA Second-Crew honoree, whereas Younger can also be a two-time All-Star, made the All-WNBA Second Crew final yr and was named the league’s Most Improved Participant in 2022.
Clark is conscious of the expertise and benefit of the gamers chosen over her, calling the Olympic squad “probably the most aggressive crew on the earth.” The 12-woman roster combines for 18 championship rings, 4 league MVPs, seven Finals MVPs, 42 all-WNBA picks and 55 All-Star picks. Crew USA can also be 70-3 all-time in Olympic play, hasn’t misplaced an Olympic contest since 1992 and hasn’t misplaced a event sport general since 2006. This system is eyeing its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal, which might break a tie with the boys’s facet (1936 to 1968) for probably the most consecutive Olympic crew gold medals in historical past.
“Everyone knows how proficient that crew is,” Clark mentioned. “You have a look at that roster, (there are) lots of gamers I’ve already had the chance to play (towards) on this league which are simply so good, and I do know they’re gonna go on the market and dominate, and I’m gonna be watching and cheering for them. It’ll be lots of enjoyable.”
Requested if she’d contemplate becoming a member of the crew as an harm alternative, Clark mentioned it might be “a fantastic alternative” however was noncommittal. She added that Crew USA is already “in fairly good arms” with the 12 gamers who had been initially chosen.
Whereas Clark mentioned she was excited to look at her countrywomen, her coach made it clear that the self-proclaimed “monster” would slightly be taking part in alongside them.
Caitlin Clark shared a message with Fever head coach Christie Sides after discovering out she didn’t make Crew USA Girls’s Basketball Olympic roster 😤
by way of @RomeovilleKid pic.twitter.com/5b8DqCmQ0Z
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 9, 2024
“That’s fairly scary, proper?” Sides mentioned of Clark utilizing her Olympic omission as motivation. “She’s one of the vital aggressive people who I do know. However she’s a employee, and that’s what she’s gonna do. This simply gave her one other alternative to get within the fitness center and do extra work.”
Clark is averaging 16.8 factors, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds by means of 12 WNBA video games. She was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month for Could after main all rookies in factors per sport, area objectives made, 3-point area objectives made, free throws made and minutes performed.
After being held to only three factors — her career-low in faculty and the WNBA — in a loss at New York on June 2, Clark bounced again 5 days later by nailing a career-high seven 3s en path to tying her career-high with 30 factors in a win at Washington. It nonetheless hasn’t been easy crusing for Clark, who’s capturing simply 37.3 % from the sphere and leads the league with 5.6 turnovers per sport.
Even earlier than her professional profession started, Clark was one among 14 gamers to obtain an invitation to the U.S. nationwide crew’s closing Cleveland-based coaching camp in April forward of the Summer season Video games. The rookie might have had a greater probability to make the Olympic crew had she performed instantly with and towards the gamers within the pool. Nevertheless, though Clark was in Cleveland on the time, she was unable to attend the camp as a result of Iowa superior to the Closing 4. The Hawkeyes in the end misplaced within the nationwide championship towards undefeated South Carolina.
Regardless of the short turnaround from her illustrious faculty profession and her highly-anticipated professional debut, Clark nonetheless needed to signify her nation within the Olympics. However she’s not complaining about having a midseason pause to recharge and refocus after the Fever’s staggering begin. Indiana performed 11 video games in 19 days to start the season, probably the most compact schedule since Washington performed 11 video games in 20 days to open the 2007 marketing campaign. The Fever will play its final sport earlier than the Olympic break at Dallas on July 17 and can resume play Aug. 17 at dwelling towards Phoenix.
“It’s gonna be very nice,” Clark mentioned in regards to the anticipated break. “I’ve cherished competing each single second, nevertheless it’s gonna be a fantastic month for my physique to to begin with get relaxation and get wholesome, and simply get a bit of time away from basketball and the craziness of all the things that’s been happening and simply discover some peace and quiet for myself.
“However then moreover, it’s a fantastic alternative for us to work and get higher.”
Required studying
(Picture: G Fiume / Getty Pictures)