Caitlin Clark set for Team USA debut after eight-month injury absence
Caitlin Clark is poised to make her long-awaited senior international debut for the United States in a FIBA World Cup qualifier following an eight-month injury layoff.
The Indiana Fever guard returns to the court next week in Puerto Rico, marking her first competitive action since July.
A frustrating series of setbacks, including groin issues and a bone bruise on her left ankle, derailed her WNBA campaign and limited her to just 13 appearances last season.
Shaking off the rust
“It will probably take me a second to knock a little bit of the rust off,” Clark admitted on Saturday.
“I will probably be a little bit nervous, which I usually don’t get, but that probably comes from the fact I haven’t really played basketball in a while.”
Despite the nerves, the former Iowa sensation emphasized her readiness after working extensively with medical staff over the last few months to regain full fitness.
“I am sure after the first minute of running around on the court, I will be just fine,” she added.
The prolific scorer noted that the extended break fuelled her work ethic, despite the disappointment of missing significant playing time during the domestic season.
“I have always been a person that is going to just rely on my work,” she said. “I feel like it has certainly made me work harder.”
Olympic goals and childhood dreams
While her omission from the gold-medal winning squad at the Paris 2024 Olympics caused significant public debate, the 23-year-old is focused on future major tournaments.
Clark has targeted a spot on the World Cup roster next year, followed by an appearance at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“Obviously that is my goal, the World Cup before that [the Olympics],” she stated. “There is a lot for me to learn.”
The Fever star also reflected on her time in the youth setup, recalling the inspiration she drew from seeing the jerseys of past legends at training camps in Colorado Springs.
“To see the senior national jerseys of great men’s players and women’s players,” she recalled. “It is a 15 or 16-year-old’s dream of doing that one day.”