September 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts on the bench after a play by the Las Vegas Aces during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvani-Imagn Image Caitlin Clark calls it a “really awesome opportunity” as she prepares to make her National Team debut in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Puerto Rico.
The five games from March 11-17 will be Clark’s first competitive basketball games in nearly eight months. Her second WNBA season was interrupted by a series of quad, groin and ankle injuries.
Clark attended his first USA Basketball Senior National Training Camp in December and said he was 100 percent, but admitted he feels different this week.
“I don’t want to call it nervous, but I’m excited to play,” Clark said after Monday’s practice, according to ESPN. “This is a really cool opportunity. If you don’t feel that way, you probably don’t care enough. Of course, I feel that way myself.
Clark, 24, is expected to make his national team debut Wednesday against Senegal. Qualifying is a prelude to the FIBA World Cup in September, and Team USA is one of five teams that have already qualified for the tournament in Berlin.
“This is a different stage,” she said. “You’re not going to come out here and be a star player. That’s not going to be the way of American basketball.”
Clark, who did not miss a game during her rookie season in the WNBA, averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists while appearing in just 13 contests last year.
“I feel like I’m in the best shape I can be at this point,” Clark said. “The first game is the hardest, but once you get the flow, it will all make sense.”
Team USA is loaded with WNBA stars, with 2025 No. 1 overall picks Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and Kiki Iriafen also set to make their senior national team debuts.
–Field level media
