Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark is not just competing for the Hawkeyes this spring, she's also expected to be training for Team USA. Clark has been named one of 14 basketball players who has been invited to the USA basketball women's national team camp in Cleveland from April 3-5.
However, Clark might not be able to go to the camp if Iowa continues to advance through the March Madness tournament. Right now, Clark and No. 1 Iowa have made it to the NCAA Sweet 16, where they are set to take on No. 5 Colorado. Given that Iowa made it all the way to the national championship game a season ago, where they lost to LSU, there's a good chance Clark might not be able to attend this camp, which will take place during the NCAA Final Four.
The camp comes ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where Team USA is looking to win its eighth straight gold medal in the basketball tournament. If Clark makes the team, it will be her first time competing for Team USA at the Olympic Games. She's previously competed internationally with the junior national teams, but this would be her first time competing for the senior national team.
The USABWNT roster will ultimately be narrowed down to 12 players who will compete for Team USA at the Olympic Games.
If Clark is able to go, she will join Chelsea Gray, Aliyah Boston, Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Brittney Griner, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Lloyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi at the USABWNT camp in Cleveland.
This prestigious roster includes nine Olympians in Taurasi, Atkins, Gray, Griner, Loyd, Plum, Stewart, Wilson and Young. Taurasi is by far the most experienced, having been to the last five Olympic Games in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Though Clark is one of five players invited to this camp who has not been to the Olympic Games, she should be able to hold her own no problem as one of the biggest stars in basketball. The reigning AP Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year, Clark should be raking in plenty of similar awards this season.
Clark leads the NCAA in both scoring and assists. She's averaging 31.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. Her points per game average is almost five points more than the second-best player, USC's JuJu Watkins. Though her invitation to this camp does not guarantee her spot in Paris, it would be surprising if the two-time unanimous All-American was left off the team.
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