Caitlin Clark hopes to play on the U.S. Olympic team one day. She won’t be in Paris next month.
The Indiana Fever rookie confirmed Sunday that she was not included in this year’s Olympic roster.
“I think it gives you something to work for,” Clark told reporters after practice. “It’s a dream. I hope I can be there one day. I feel a little more motivated. … I hope I can be there when the four years roll around.”
The next Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
Clark seemed unfazed by the news, but her coach said the decision will certainly motivate the star rookie.
“We actually talked on the bus,” Fever coach Christie Sides said Sunday. “She picked up the phone on the bus and texted me to let me know. … All she said was, ‘Hey coach, they woke up the monster.’ I thought that was really awesome.”
Clark has averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists so far in his young professional career with the Fever.
She was not included on the U.S. roster provided to The Associated Press on Saturday by a person familiar with the team. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there had been no official announcement.
The roster includes A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi, who is seeking a record sixth Olympic gold medal.
“I’m really excited for the girls on the team,” Clark said. “I know this team is the most competitive team in the world, and I know it could go either way, whether I’m on the team or not on the team. I’m excited for them. I’ll be rooting for them to win. “I was a kid who grew up watching the Olympics. I think it would be fun to watch.”
The United States has won every gold medal in women’s basketball since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Clark said he received a call letting him know he wasn’t selected for this year’s team.
“They called me and let me know before everything came out. That was really admirable, and I appreciate that,” she said. “They did the same thing for every girl who made the team or every girl who didn’t make the team. There are a lot of athletes in the Olympic pool. They weren’t the only ones they had to call. .They had to make quite a few calls.”
Starting off her record-setting college career at Iowa, Clark brought women’s college basketball millions of new fans. The United States has a specific selection process that determines who makes the national team, including availability, positions played, and versatility.
Clark is included in the U.S. national team roster and can be selected as a replacement if one of the 12 players is injured and unable to play in the game. Anyone in the pool can be a substitute.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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