Caitlin Clark eager for return to game action after long road back
The Indiana Fever star says she’s in a great place physically and mentally and expects some nerves as she returns to game action Wednesday with USA Basketball.
Caitlin Clark is back on the basketball court and preparing for game action. Those are words she — and her fans — have been waiting to hear for a long time.
It’s been since July 15, in the final seconds of a win over the Connecticut Sun — in an NBA venue, TD Garden in Boston — since Clark last played in a game. It’s been a grueling stretch for the WNBA’s young star. Because of a handful of soft-tissue injuries, Clark was limited to just 13 WNBA games in her sophomore season.
But that changes this week.
For the first time in nearly eight months, fans will be able to see Clark back on the court. It’s her happy place — a place to enjoy competition and put on a show for viewers. This time it will be with the United States Senior National Team as Clark (and several others) makes her debut. She’s been part of the USA Basketball system since U16, but she was left off the 2024 Olympic team.
“I feel good. I feel really healthy,” Clark said on Saturday.
Clark and the 11 other members of the team — which will compete in five World Cup qualifying games held in San Juan, Puerto Rico — arrived in Miami on Friday for team training camp over the weekend.
The roster: Caitlin Clark, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Kiki Iriafen, Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Monique Billings, and Rae Burrell.
Her Fever teammate, Aliyah Boston, is no longer participating after suffering a right-leg injury during the final week of action at Unrivaled. She’s back in Indianapolis for evaluation.
Breanna Stewart, fresh off a championship at Unrivaled, will not play in the World Cup qualifier but is in Miami for training camp.
WNBA legend Sue Bird was named the first-ever Managing Director for the U.S. Women’s National Team and plays the lead role in selecting the roster.
“I keep joking, I’ve been doing this for like 20 years on napkins,” said Bird. “So it was nice actually to have a real roster.”
The Work
The last eight months have presented Clark with the biggest test of her young career. She loves the game and everything that comes with it, including practice. Yes, she missed the little things on the court and being part of the group. So she had to dig deep, remain relentless, listen to her body and then push further — while also knowing when to take it easy.
There’s also uncertainty around the WNBA as the league continues negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the WNBPA. So it’s been helpful for Clark to have two basketball checkpoints to prepare for — first, a USA camp at Duke in December, and now the World Cup qualifier.
“I love skill development, working on my game and this and that,” Clark said. “And there’s obviously a ton of that, but you need to just go out there and play.”
With Team USA, the group is training at the Miami Heat practice facility. But Clark has spent most of the offseason in Indianapolis, using the Fever and Pacers practice courts.
Watch her full media availability from Saturday in the media player below:
Clark, 24, works with the medical staff in the training room and then with player development coaches on the court. The Fever made two hires in the offseason: Cory Price as senior director of player health and performance and Rob Dosier as a second development coach — an important addition as Keith Porter recovers from a torn Achilles.
Shooting and skill development are always a priority, but Clark has also worked closely with coaches on simulating live play. Game speed, skilled defense, athleticism and physicality are all emphasized as Clark plays 5-on-5 against a group of former overseas pros brought in to compete.
