Kaitlyn Clark isn't planning on slowing down after not being selected for the 2024 Olympic team. “I'm not disappointed” about not making the national team, she told Indy Star Sports' Chloe Peterson. “I just think it gives me something to strive for. That's the dream. Hopefully I'll be on the national team one day. I think it gives me a little bit more motivation. Hopefully I'll be on the national team again in four years.”
The next Summer Olympics are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
“I'm excited for the girls that are on the team,” Clark said. “I know it's the most competitive team in the world, and I know it could have gone either way whether I was on the team or not, so I'm excited for them to do well.”
“I'll be rooting for them to win the gold medal,” she added. “I was a kid who grew up watching the Olympics, so it'll be fun to watch them compete.”
Clark added that USA Basketball called her ahead of time to let her know she wasn't selected, and in case anyone was wondering, she's “definitely” looking forward to being away from basketball — at least for a while.
The WNBA season ends on September 19, but the league is on a break from July 21 to August 14 for the Olympics. Before the Olympics begin, the Olympic team will play in Phoenix against the WNBA All-Star team on July 20. The All-Star team has yet to be selected.
The U.S. women's basketball team, competing for an eighth consecutive gold medal in Paris this summer, includes Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, who was released from Russian custody ahead of the 2023 season, as well as Arielle Atkins, Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Boston, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewel Lloyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
The team has seven Olympic champions: Taurasi is a five-time Olympic champion in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Atkins, Copper, Ionescu, Lloyd, Plumb, Stewart and Thomas were all members of the team that won a gold medal at the 2022 Basketball World Cup.
Clark has been named a candidate for the Olympic team and could be selected as an alternate for the team.
