Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is set to make her FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup debut for Team USA on Friday. The Americans are set to open their tournament against China as Team USA looks to make it five straight World Cup titles.
Clark led the national team to a 5-0 record in the qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March. She was named the MVP, and the 6-foot guard is expected to keep that momentum going in Berlin, Germany, for the final tournament.
Clark’s upcoming World Cup debut comes two years after she was left out of the national squad for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. At that time, Clark was in her rookie season but had already established herself as one of the best and most exciting players in the WNBA.
In a statement addressing Clark’s exclusion from the final roster, USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee chair Jen Rizzotti told the Associated Press that “there were other players that were harder to cut because they checked a lot more boxes.” The high-ranking executive also noted that it came down to “style of play” for then-Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve.
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Clark, however, holds no ill will. In a recent FIBA interview ahead of the World Cup, the 24-year-old explained why she was willing to wait for her time to come.
“You know, you kinda just wait your turn and continue to put in the work,” Clark said.
“There’s so much talent in our country, and there’s so many people that have been a part of these teams and have won gold medals, and obviously, we have that experience on this team as well.
“Obviously, getting to watch the games in Paris, like just thinking about how such a cool opportunity that would be to hopefully one day maybe make the Olympic team. And I feel like obviously, we’re at the halfway point of, you know, LA in ’28.”
Team USA went on to win the Paris Olympics without Clark, marking their eighth straight gold medal. They will defend their title on home soil at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and Clark has already set her sights on making her Summer Games debut for the national team.
For now, however, the Fever superstar is focused on the task at hand: winning her first gold medal at the World Cup.
“Even getting to play here in the World Cup, that’s special within itself, too,” she said. “Sometimes this is an even harder competition than the Olympics. I think one of the most fun parts is the international game and talent is growing and growing. These competitions are only getting harder to win.”
Clark remained patient, knowing full well that her time would come. She is now set to reap the benefits of her sacrifices.
“I think you just wait your turn, continue to put in the work, and your game kind of evolves as you get older,” Clark stated.
