The accolades just keep on piling up for Caitlin Clark. The Iowa Hawkeyes star has been invited to participate in the United States women’s basketball training camp in Cleveland ahead of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
There’s only one problem: That camp is scheduled for April 3-5, and the NCAA Women’s Final Four takes place April 5 — with the National Championship game just two nights later. Of course, Iowa still has to win two more games to reach its second-straight Final Four, starting with Saturday’s Sweet 16 match-up against No. 5 Colorado in Albany.
(Caitlin Clark of Iowa. Credit: Getty Images)
If Iowa loses before advancing to the Final Four, Clark will be able to attend camp. If not, expect the senior to remain focused on winning his first NCAA Championship.
Related: Caitlin Clark thanks Iowa fans in social media post after final home game
But next week's training camp is just one step in USA Basketball's Olympic selection process. A committee of coaches and former players will handpick the members of both the U.S. 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 teams. They will then play an exhibition game against the WNBA All-Stars in Phoenix on July 20th.
And there is already fierce competition to make the team. The Cleveland camp includes nine former Olympians, including Diana Taurasi, Ariel Atkins, Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Brittney Greiner, Jewell Lloyd and Brianna Stewart. participate. Also invited are Sabrina Ionescu and Shakira Austin from the 2022 FIBA World Cup Gold Medal Winning Team, and Ryne Howard and Aliyah Boston from the Olympic Qualifying Tournament Team.
The list announcement date has not yet been determined.
Clark has already won three gold medals with the U.S. junior team, most recently at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup.
