It is still possible that Caitlin Clark could play for the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer. Her first few weeks in the WNBA will determine if she is worthy of a roster spot.
This comes after the former Iowa superstar was unable to attend Team USA’s training camp.
Clark received an invitation to participate. However, the Hawkeyes were playing in the Final Four.
Although attendance is not mandatory, an inability to compete at camp would typically preclude an athlete from making it onto the team. Especially for a rookie, who has not faced that level of talent. That could still be the case. It is very possible that the U.S. women’s basketball selection committee determines that Clark is not quite ready to go international and play for the stars and stripes.
Caitlin Clark can still make the team!
Committee chair Jennifer Rizzotti left the door wide open when speaking to Doug Feinberg.
You always want to introduce new players into the pool whether it’s for now or the future. We stick to our principles of talent, obviously, positional fit, loyalty and experience. It’s got to be a combination of an entire body of work. It’s still not going to be fair to some people.
— Jennifer Rizzotti, via the Associated Press
An finalized roster for Team USA will not be determined until June 1. Clark will begin her WNBA career with two preseason games on May 3 and May 10. Her first regular season game is scheduled to take place on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun.
That matchup is rather convenient. Rizzotti is the president of the Sun. She will get a first-hand look at the most-hyped rookie in league history before having to make a decision on Team USA.
From there, Clark will play eight additional regular season games prior to the first of June. Rizzotti and the committee is going to make a decision on whether she deserves to compete for Team USA the Olympics based off of two preseason and nine regular season games.
Although Clark does not have any senior national team experience, she won gold at the 2019 and 2021 FIBA U19 World Cups and the 2017 FIBA U16 Americas Championship. There was also chatter that Team USA would consider adding her to the 3X3 team.
However, that is not in the cards.
Three-on-three is really cool, I’ve just never done it. But five-on-five is the goal and the dream. To play with the best in the world and against the best in the world, you can’t script it better than that.
— Caitlin Clark
Should Caitlin Clark make the Olympic roster, she would be the first rookie to do so since Breanna Stewart in 2016. The difference is that the former UConn star was playing with the senior national team during college. This would be the former Iowa star’s first time.