Fever rookie Caitlin Clark received an expected WNBA All-Star invitation and will face Team USA in the showcase game on July 20. But is there still a chance she could switch sides?
Clark's omission from the U.S. Olympic women's basketball roster raised some eyebrows, as proponents of the rising star's inclusion saw the Summer Games as an opportunity to grow the sport via Clark's celebrity. The selection committee instead opted for a more veteran group to compete on the world's biggest stage.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old guard has found more consistency on the court since she was left off the Olympic roster. Clark is averaging 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists over her last seven games and shooting 37% from 3-point range. After scoring in the single-digits four times across her first 14 WNBA games, she's scored at least 13 points in each of her last seven.
As she adjusts her game to the WNBA, is the door open for a last-minute Olympic bid? A key injury is feeding speculation that Clark's Olympic hopes aren't dead yet.
MORE: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese set to team up in WNBA All-Star Game
Is Caitlin Clark going to the Olympics?
Lynx standout Napheesa Collier left Thursday's game with a foot injury, throwing her Olympic status (at least briefly) into question.
Minnesota has not provided any details on Collier's injury but listed her as doubtful to play Saturday against the Mystics, offering some optimism about her odds to return to the Lynx in the near future and to play for Team USA.
If Collier is unable to play in Paris, though, someone else will move into her Olympic roster spot. Could Clark be next up?
Clark is considered an alternate for Team USA, but her selection would not be likely in place of Collier. Though the players are similar in stature, the 6-1 Collier is a forward, while the 6-0 Clark is a guard. Sun center Brionna Jones, who stands at 6-3, is also among the top alternates and could be a more natural fit.
In more ways than one, it might benefit Clark to simply sit out the Olympics. She's played basketball nearly nonstop since November 2023 thanks to the way the WNBA season directly follows the college basketball schedule, and she's dealt with a skyrocketing public profile at the same time. The Olympic break should give her some time to recover, both mentally and physically.
While nothing is guaranteed, it would be pretty surprising if Clark wasn't a future Olympian. She has a chance to be part of Team USA in both 2028 and 2032, and her current trajectory should put her on track to be a lock for the roster four years from now. That might make it more worthwhile for her to wait to make her Olympic debut.
Clark didn't say she was disappointed when she was left off the initial roster in June, instead treating the decision as an opportunity.
"I think it just gives you something to work for," Clark told reporters at the time. "It's a dream, hopefully one day I can be there. I think it's just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully, when four years comes back, I can be there."
Clark is set to face Team USA along with the rest of the WNBA's All-Stars on July 20, ahead of an Olympic break that spans more than three weeks.
MORE: Why Dearica Hamby replaced Cameron Brink on Team USA 3x3 roster
Napheesa Collier injury update
Collier exited Thursday's Lynx 78-73 loss to the Sun in the third quarter and didn't return. The team announced she was dealing with a foot injury but did not have an update on her status after the game.
Napheesa Collier (left foot) is
— Lynx PR (@Lynx_PR) July 5, 2024
OUT for the remainder of tonight’s game.
Ahead of Saturday's game against the Mystics, though, Collier was listed as doubtful, opening the door for her return — and seemingly projecting a short recovery timeline for the MVP candidate. She was ruled out ahead of tip-off, though the Lynx only referred to her injury as a sore foot.
There is no indication at this point that Collier is in serious danger of missing the Olympics, which start in three weeks.
Still, the Olympics are close enough at this point that it wouldn't necessarily take a serious injury to keep a player off the floor in Paris. Team USA begins competition in just over three weeks and leaves sooner, so all eyes will be on Collier's status to see if the 27-year-old forward is dealing with anything that might cause her to miss time.
Collier is averaging 20.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game this season after finishing fourth in MVP voting a year ago. She was part of Team USA's gold medal team at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
