Caitlin Clark opens up on watching 2024 Olympics after controversial snub from Team USA basketball roster

Caitlin Clark insists she is not ‘bummed’ astatine missing retired connected nan Olympics, contempt having to watch from nan sofa arsenic her WNBA rivals compete successful Paris.

Clark, nan biggest prima successful women’s basketball, was controversially near disconnected nan Team USA roster for nan Games successful France this summer.

The No 1 draught prime has alternatively enjoyed a little break during her WNBA rookie season, during which she has been reading, relaxing – and pursuing nan action from afar.

Clark has antecedently said it would beryllium a ‘dream’ to compete successful nan Olympics but she said this snub would service arsenic information up of the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

When asked if she was ‘bummed’ not to beryllium successful Paris, Clark said: ‘No, I deliberation nan break has decidedly been good.

‘It's surely cool – an opportunity you only get erstwhile successful 4 years. So I wouldn't opportunity I'm needfully bummed, it gives you thing to activity for, thing to dream of.

‘In 4 years you tin beryllium location and 4 years comes fast. That's your clip successful college... it shows you that you person to commencement moving now if you want that to beryllium your dream successful 4 years. That's it for maine - activity difficult and hopefully you tin beryllium there.’

The Indiana Fever star, who has returned to practice, added: ‘I’ve watched a bully magnitude of it. I watched nan USA women yesterday - that was fun. I watched USA men. I tried to watch arsenic overmuch arsenic I can... possibly (coach) Christie (Sides) should cancel believe truthful I tin watch more!’

Without nan erstwhile Iowa star, Team USA will caput into its 2nd group crippled connected Thursday against Belgium aft a blowout 102-76 triumph complete Japan.

Clark is backmost connected nan believe tribunal pinch nan Fever this week aft enjoying a short break – her first existent picnic since sophomore twelvemonth of college.

 'The refresh from each standpoint is really patient and thing I needed,' she said. ‘I publication a book, I wasn't connected my telephone much, it was really nice. I conscionable relaxed - it was weird for sure,’ she said.

Clark admitted she was 'exhausted' - mentally, emotionally and physically - aft a melodramatic rookie season. She besides took nan chance to soak up nan sun.

'I'm still ace pale, I'm still deprived of nan sun,' she joked. 

'But I'm going to effort to play much play complete nan break, I haven't been retired location yet this year. I person caller clubs I request to break successful and spot really they swing.'