Caitlin Clark’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable, from guiding Iowa to a national championship game to being drafted into the WNBA by the Indiana Fever. Now, the burning question is whether she possesses the caliber to secure a spot on the Olympic team.

Expressing her fervent desire to represent the USA in the upcoming Paris Olympics, Clark understands that the ultimate decision rests with USA Basketball’s selection committee. However, she also has another crucial goal in mind: earning her college degree. “I would love to be on the Olympic team and be in Paris. But that’s not up to me … I actually still need to earn my degree, too; I need to graduate college first, or else my mom might kill me,” stressed the former Iowa star.

Yet, Clark faces formidable challenges ahead, particularly navigating the grueling schedule of professional basketball after an illustrious college career. Breanna Stewart, who earned a spot on the Olympic team as a rookie in 2016, underscored the immense difficulty of maintaining peak performance amidst the relentless grind of the WNBA season.

Coach Cheryl Reeve, set to coach the Minnesota Lynx and Team USA, believes in Clark’s resilience to confront the hurdles ahead. However, she acknowledges the inevitable learning curves, both on and off the court. “There’s gonna be learning curves for me. I’m not gonna come out here and score 40 points a game,” cautioned Caitlin.

The path to the Olympics presents a formidable challenge for the Fever’s rookie sensation. Clark must acclimate to fiercer competition, adapt to novel defensive strategies, and navigate the demanding WNBA schedule. Reeve emphasized the taxing physical and mental toll of the WNBA season, a factor that could impact Clark’s quest for an Olympic berth.