Caitlin Clark Set To Make U.s. National Team Debut

Caitlin Clark is excited to make her U.S. nationalist team debut adjacent week erstwhile nan Americans play successful a FIBA World Cup qualifier successful Puerto Rico.

It will beryllium Clark’s first crippled successful astir 8 months since a multitude of injuries derailed her WNBA season pinch nan Indiana Fever successful July.

“It’ll astir apt return maine a 2nd to sound a small spot of nan rust off,” Clark said Saturday. “I’ll astir apt beryllium a small spot nervous, which I usually don’t get tense but that astir apt comes from I haven’t really played hoops successful a while. I’m judge aft nan first infinitesimal of moving astir connected nan court, I’ll beryllium conscionable fine. But much than anything, conscionable really excited. I cognize really overmuch activity and really overmuch clip I put successful to make judge my body’s arsenic patient arsenic it tin beryllium and to get back.”

It’s been rather a travel for Clark, who played successful 13 games past season. She had groin injuries and past a bony bruise successful her near ankle. She’s been successful nan gym getting ready, moving pinch nan Fever aesculapian squad and subordinate developmental unit complete nan past fewer months.

“I’ve ever been a personification that’s going to conscionable trust connected my work. I consciousness for illustration it’s surely made maine activity harder,” Clark said of nan injuries. “But that’s besides astir apt nan portion that benignant of stunk astir it, is I felt for illustration I put successful truthful overmuch clip and truthful overmuch power going into past season, and past obviously, only appeared successful astir 13 games.”

Clark has fond memories of playing pinch younger USA Basketball teams. She recalled being successful Colorado Springs successful her teens and going into a room filled pinch jerseys of past American greats.

“My eyes were truthful wide, thought it was nan coolest point successful nan world of all,” she said. “[To see] nan elder nationalist jerseys of awesome men’s players and women’s players. It’s a 15- aliases 16-year-old’s dream of doing that 1 day.”

Clark knows this is conscionable her first measurement pinch nan nationalist team. There was an uproar erstwhile she didn’t make nan 2024 Paris Olympic team. She eyes playing connected nan World Cup squad adjacent autumn and past successful Los Angeles connected nan 2028 Olympic squad.

“There’s a batch to get to that point,” she said. “Obviously that’s my goal, nan World Cup earlier that. There’s a batch for maine to learn.”

Feinberg writes for nan Associated Press.