The Olympics are less than 2 months away and it was only yesterday when the Team USA’s roster was announced. However, excluding the WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark from the team has become a piece of bigger news. The marketing opportunity that could have stemmed from Clark’s presence has been a concern for most, flooding the community in disagreement. Amidst this mayhem, Liberty’s Breanna Stewart sends an encouraging message to Clark as she eyes the next Olympics.

No matter how the narrative of the W vs. Caitlin Clark is playing out of late, it isn’t the whole truth. Evidently, the vets do look out for the newcomers of the league, sharing insights from their experience. One such would be Stewart’s words for Clark: “Her time will come,” the 2X NBA champion stated as she acknowledged the rookie’s talent.

Stewart said, “Caitlin is a great player and I think the way that she’s kind of came into this league she’s continuing to hold her own and show everyone what she can do. I think that I’m excited to go alongside these 12 but know that Caitlin is going to have a bright future with USA basketball and I think you know the points that she made she’s even more motivated, more hungry and, just knowing that her time is going to come.” 

The New York Liberty forward reasoned her claim as she pointed out Clark’s ‘ability to stretch the floor and to put up giant scoring performances every so often, keeping the guards on alert’. But that is not to say the Fever’s No.22 has mastered it all.

USA Today via Reuters

“Obviously, there’s a learning curve and you know that as well when you come to the W. So, she’s trying to figure that out,” Stewart remarked.

As a rookie, Clark has been averaging 16.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.5 steals with only 9 games into the regular season out of which she has registered 4 20+ point games, a 30-point game, and a double-double. Similarly, only 4 games into the Commissioner’s Cup she has been scoring in double digits, one of them being a 30-point game.

With much to learn, Caitlin Clark has been well receptive of missing out on the Olympic roster. “I think it just gives you something to work for,” Clark said. The 22-year-old reveals she takes it as a motivation and hopes to make it to the next Olympics. While she sets in preparation for her possible first, years later, Stewart will be looking to bag her third gold in the coming months.

Breanna Stewart to lead Team USA

In her career of 8 years in the WNBA, Breanna Stewart has won gold twice in the Olympic Games. Moreover, she is one of the four players to ever make it to the national team in their rookie season. Expressing her excitement for the upcoming international event, she said, “What excites me most about Paris is going out with this team, doing what we can to go after that gold medal.” USA women’s basketball has won the Olympic gold 9 times and 7 of those consecutively. Now as they aim to tally the number to 8, Stewart is excited to have her friends and family watch on.

She further expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to play among some of the best players in the league and more so, represent the country alongside. She said, “Just the versatility. We have, obviously, D (Diana Taurasi) who’s gonna play in her sixth Olympic games… some of the first-timers… really just understanding that this is the best of the best and all 12 of us are ready to go after to get together… and playing against everyone else in the world.”

The criteria to make it to the national team include versatility to play other positions, adaptability to team concepts, adaptability to international games, and the likelihood of contributing to team success. The national team roster for the Olympic Games is a power-packed contingent, ready to attack and fulfill the Olympic mission to medal.