As the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team aims for its eighth consecutive gold medal in Paris this summer, Caitlin Clark remains in the U.S., balancing her time between practices with the Indiana Fever and her passion for golf. During a recent media session with the Fever, Clark shared how the WNBA All-Star/Olympic break has positively impacted her mental health after an “emotionally exhausting” first half of the season. She also addressed her feelings about missing what could have been her first Olympic experience.
When asked if she was disappointed about not being part of the Olympics, Clark responded candidly. “No, I mean, I think the break’s definitely been good,” she said, reflecting on her situation. “It’s certainly cool. It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you’re only going to ever get in four years. So I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily bummed. I think it gives you something to work for sure and something to dream of.”
Clark acknowledged that the four-year interval between Olympic Games can pass quickly, likening it to the span of her college career, where she felt like she was just starting out as a freshman. “Four years comes fast,” she noted. “It makes me think of, like, that’s your time in college, and I feel like I was just a freshman… It shows you that you gotta start working now if you want that to be your dream in four years. So I think that’s it for me, you know, work hard and hopefully you can be there.”
Despite her impressive performance in the WNBA, where she has set several records and helped draw significant crowds, Clark was not selected for Team USA’s Olympic roster this summer. In her rookie year, the former Iowa standout has made a significant impact, setting records for most single-game assists (19) and most assists by a rookie in an All-Star Game (10).
While Clark sits out, Team USA has begun their Olympic campaign strongly, securing a 26-point victory over Japan in their group stage opener. The team, led by veterans such as A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, is performing well without Clark and is focused on adding another gold medal to their collection. Team USA will face Belgium next on Thursday.
Clark and the Fever are set to resume their season on August 16, with a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, featuring the legendary Diana Taurasi.
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