Being selected to play for Team USA in the quadrennial Olympics is the pinnacle of any player’s career. Unfortunately for WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark, she may have to wait for another four years before getting a shot at a roster spot after she wasn’t selected to be part of the team that will compete for the gold medal in the Paris Olympics women’s basketball tournament, which is set to tip off next month.

According to Caitlin’s head coach on the Indiana Fever, the 22-year-old guard is now highly motivated to prove herself worthy of consideration for future Olympic teams. Her initial reaction to the snub was a mix of disappointment and determination.

They woke up a monster

Although her rookie season has seen its fair share of ups and downs, especially as she adjusts to the WNBA’s pace and physicality, the former Iowa Hawkeyes legend is still putting up solid numbers, with averages of 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. She’s also had two 30-point explosions in the last five games, her last one proving memorable as she canned seven three-pointers in an 85-83 win over the Washington Mystics.

When Caitlin received the call about her non-inclusion on Team USA, she was on the bus with her coach, Christine Sides. The news undoubtedly disappointed the 6-foot sharpshooter, but her subsequent reaction was unexpected.

“She got the call on the bus, and she texted me to let me know, and I just tried to keep her spirits up. The thing she said was, ‘Hey coach, they woke a monster,’ which I thought was awesome,” Sides shared.

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Sides continued by saying that she’s seen how competitive the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer can be, which makes the thought of her becoming “a monster” on the court even more exciting.

“I don’t know, man. It’s pretty scary, right? She’s one of the most competitive people I know. She’s a worker, and that’s what she’s gonna do. This just gave her another opportunity to get in the gym and do more work,” Sides added.

Happy for the ones who made the team

Reflecting on the women’s Team USA, which will consist of WNBA stalwarts, Caitlin maintains a positive outlook. She expresses her excitement about the team and her motivation to be part of it in the future.

“I’m excited for the girls that are on the team. I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way of me being on the team, me not being on the team. I’m excited for them; gonna be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid who grew up watching the Olympics, so it’ll be fun to watch them,” Clark said.

“I think it just gives you something to work for. It’s a dream. Hopefully, one day, I can be there, and I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that, and hopefully, in four years, I can be there,” she added.

Clark is already a solid WNBA player who can improve her ballhandling, decision-making skills (she’s averaging 5.6 turnovers per game!), and shot selection. However, it’s not far-fetched to think that she will banner the next iteration of Team USA.