Caitlin Clark to Make USA Basketball Debut, Return from Injuries for 1st Time in 8 Months

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark will play her first game of competitive basketball in eight months next week when she debuts for the United States national team.

According to Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press, Clark will see action during Team USA's FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup qualifier against Puerto Rico on March 12.

Clark admitted that there may be some nerves after such a long layoff, but she expects to quickly get back in the swing of things, telling reporters, "It'll probably take a me a second to knock a little bit of the rust off. I'll probably be a little bit nervous, which I usually don't get nervous but that probably comes from I haven't really played basketball in a while. I'm sure after the first minute of running around on the court, I'll be just fine. But more than anything, just really excited. I know how much work and how much time I put in to make sure my body's as healthy as it can be and to get back."

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft out of Iowa, Clark made an instant impact as a rookie, earning All-Star and WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, while leading the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.

Because of that, expectations were through the roof for Clark entering her second WNBA season, but she was ravaged by injuries, as groin and ankle ailments limited her to just 13 games.

While the fate of the 2026 WNBA season is in question due to ongoing labor negotiations, Clark will have a chance to re-assert her dominance on the national stage.

Clark won gold for Team USA at the under-16 and under-19 levels, but next week will mark her first time playing for the senior national team.

She was somewhat controversially left off the USA women's basketball team that won gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Clark noted Saturday that playing in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles is a "goal" she has, adding that there is "a lot for me to learn" in the World Cup.

With a strong showing in World Cup qualifying and the FIBA World Cup itself, Clark can make a solid case for why she deserves a spot on the Olympic roster in two years.