Fever HC: 'Disappointed' Caitlin Clark Missed USA Roster, Will Have Chances in Future

USA Basketball caused quite the stir when it didn't select Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark for its Olympic roster this past week, and head coach Christie Sides had her own take on the decision Sunday.

"A little disappointed, of course. She's my player," she told reporters. "That's the hardest team in the world to make. That is a tough team. She's young, she's doing to have so many opportunities in the future.

Sides added that Clark was using the situation as motivation.

"We talked actually on the bus. She got the call on the bus, and she texted me to let me know. I just tried to keep her spirits up. The thing she said was, 'Hey coach, they woke a monster,' which I thought was awesome."

Christine Brennan of USA Today reported that two "longtime U.S. basketball veterans" told her that "concern about how Clark's millions of fans would react to what would likely be limited playing time on a stacked roster was a factor in the decision making."

Clark, 22, is averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in her first 12 WNBA games. While there have absolutely been growing pains—namely her 5.6 turnovers per game and surprising 32.7 percent shooting from three—she's more than held her own at the professional level.

But Team USA is also stacked with plenty of veteran superstars, making it a tough team to crack. There's little doubt that Clark will regularly feature on that team soon enough if she continues on her current career trajectory.