Caitin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, will use her early play in the league to try out for a spot on the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team. The roster for the Paris Games won’t be finalized until June 1, giving Clark some time to showcase her skills to the selection committee. Jennifer Rizzotti, the committee chair, stated that they are always looking to introduce new players into the pool based on talent, positional fit, loyalty, and experience. While Clark was unable to attend the U.S. training camp due to her commitments with Iowa during the Final Four, she will have the opportunity to prove herself during the start of her WNBA career.
Although Clark missed the U.S. training camp in Cleveland, which was the last chance for players to showcase their skills before the roster announcement, she will have a chance to impress during her time in the WNBA. The team will come together for a few days in July before the Olympics, including playing an exhibition All-Star game against WNBA players. While the U.S. men’s basketball Olympic roster was announced last week, the women’s team is still being finalized. The American women, who are aiming for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal, have a strong group of guards already in the pool, including veterans like Diana Taurasi, Chelsea Gray, and young talents like Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, and Ariel Atkins.
Rizzotti expressed the importance of preparing for the future of the U.S. women’s basketball team, focusing on developing the upcoming guards like Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, and Caitlin Clark. While Clark has no senior national team experience, she has competed with junior USA teams and has won gold medals at various FIBA championships. Clark’s goal is to play on the 5-on-5 Olympic team, despite the potential opportunity to compete in 3×3 basketball. The 3×3 competition has gained popularity, but Clark is focused on playing against the best in the 5-on-5 format at the Olympics.
Clark’s selection as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft puts her in a position to compete at the highest level in the league, where she will face tough competition and have the opportunity to showcase her skills. Rizzotti, who is also the president of the Connecticut Sun, will have a front-row seat to watch Clark in action when she opens her WNBA career. If Clark makes the U.S. Olympic team, she would follow in the footsteps of players like Breanna Stewart, who made the team in 2016 as a WNBA rookie. While Stewart had more experience with the national team, Clark’s talent and potential could earn her a spot on the roster without senior national team experience.
As Clark embarks on her WNBA career and aims for a spot on the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, she will have the opportunity to prove herself on the court and demonstrate her talent to the selection committee. With a strong group of guards already in the pool, Clark will need to show that she can compete at the international level and contribute to the team’s success. As she prepares to face the best players in the world, Clark is focused on achieving her dream of representing the U.S. on the international stage and making an impact in the sport of basketball.
