Representing USA is special vibe for WNBA vets
Diana Taurasi (3), A’ja Wilson (22) and Kahleah Copper (2) are all expected to be named to the Women’s National Team to represent USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, via Las Vegas Aces
By W.G. RAMIREZ
When the U.S. women's national team is officially announced Tuesday, Caitlin Clark will not be on the roster, The Associated Press confirmed through a source.
And the Indiana Fever rookie sensation has no problem with it.
"Honestly, no disappointment," Clark said after Sunday's practice. "I think it just gives you something to work for, it's a dream. Hopefully ... when four years comes back around, I can be there."
Now, if only her fans could get over it.
With millions of new fans following her from her college career at Iowa to the WNBA, anger grew on social media after the roster was initially leaked Friday by The Athletic.
Instead, they'll be rooting for a group of 12 women who have plenty of experience representing the United States on many levels, led by Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi, who will head to Paris for her sixth Olympic games.
Also expected to be announced on the team are Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
"It is different," Plum told WGRamirez.com after Friday's practice, on the difference between representing the WNBA and the United States. "I think the W can be a little bit more personal. I think when you put on a United States of America jersey, you really represent so many people.
“You know, I didn't realize when I was in Tokyo, when I got back to the United States, how proud people are that you're playing for them. You're playing for your country, there's a pride in that. And you know it, but you don't really know it until you get home.”
For Griner, it's a trip to the Olympics that could hold even more meaning being it's her first time playing internationally since she was detained in a Russian prison for 10 months in 2022.
"You're representing your country, you're on the highest stage, it doesn't get any higher than that," Griner said Sunday via Zoom. "And anytime we get to put on the red, white and blue - USA across our chest - we know we're going to get every country's best shot.
“So it's just a different level of play, it's just a different level of intensity and practice. And I mean you're just playing for so much more. I can't wait to go."
National team coach Cheryl Reeve said USA Basketball has always made a commitment to women's basketball being the best, starting with a foundation that has values and priorities in not only talented players but selfless people who play the game the right way.
"It's hard being a WNBA player, an overseas player, and a USA basketball player," Reeve said. "They're pulled in so many directions, but they're willing to be there and go through the sacrifice that it takes to be able to be a part of it. And so, it's special. It's special every time. I know, for me, it's been since 2014, there's not been a time that I sit on the sideline and with introductions and the national anthem being played that you don't feel this very, very special sense of pride and purpose in what we're doing."
Reeve commended the players who have laid the foundation she spoke of, for a national team that has won every gold medal in women’s basketball since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
From this year's roster, seven of the 12 players have won a combined 13 gold medals, with Taurasi leading this year's roster with five. Plum and Young won gold medals with the 3x3 women's national team in 2020. Thomas, Ionescu and Copper are first-time Olympians.
“We have a lot of differences today in our society, but at the end of the day, something about that USA jersey, you put it on, I don't care if you're rowing, you're doing archery, you're playing basketball - everyone watches the Olympics and is like, 'I'm rooting for USA, right?'
"You got your USA on the front and Plum on the back, like, I'm taking no prisoners."
THREES
Emotions overflowed for the best of friends Cameron Brink and Hailey Van Lith, who will join Cierra Burdick and Rhyne Howard on USA Basketball's four-member 3x3 women's national team.
"The emotions, they can't really be described," an emotional Van Lith said on a video after receiving her invite to be on the team from Jay Demings, USA Basketball 3x3 national team director and member of the USA Basketball 3x3 women’s selection committee. "A lot of joy, a lot of gratitude. I'm excited to wear USA across my chest and be in Paris for the first time. I've never been to Paris. And I think it's just such a cool reason to go to Paris, so I can't wait."
Graphic courtesy: USA Basketball
Brink said she and Van Lith immediately called one another and expressed how proud she was of her close friend, after "all the adversity she's overcome."
Brink, who won the gold medal at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup with Burdick and Van Lith, said she's looking forward to the opening ceremonies.
"I'm just excited for that, just to be a part of such a historic moment and just representing my country, but also just kind of admiring and appreciating the other countries and their talents and hard work," Brink said.
Burdick will be the veteran of the group, having won gold medals with the 3x3 national team at the 2013 and 2023 World Cup, and will now play in her first Olympics.
"This is something that I didn't even think was possible when I was a young kid growing up," Burdick said on her announcement video. "You kind of dream of it, but this is beyond my wildest dreams."
Howard, who has more extensive 5x5 USA Basketball experience said she was still trying to find the words to explain her elation after receiving her invite.
"Just ecstatic," Howard said. "They called me and told me that they wanted to pick me up and asked me to accept and I was like, 'Yes, of course!' I know that my mom's gonna be happy, she gets to go to Paris, too. I'm grateful to be going."
Plum said she remembers the elation she felt when being named to the inaugural 3x3 team in 2020.
"It's one of the highest honors to be able to picked to represent your country,” Plum said. "It's really cool for a player to be able to represent their country. I do remember having a dream that you want to play in the Olympics, but for 3x3 to be a new sport and to be able to have an opportunity to play it, I had a blast. I think it's awesome for those young players."
While Collier will be looking for her second gold with the 5x5 team, she also said she was happy for her Team USA colleagues and is looking forward to seeing them compete for 3x3 gold.
"I was really happy for them, it was really touching," Collier said about the Brink's and Van Lith's videos. "Going to the Olympics is a really big deal, representing your country at the highest level in sports is amazing. I'm really excited for them. It's their first Olympics, I hope they go and crush it. This one's really special.
“Your first time is always so special, doing something like this, it's great every single time, but I think this is something they'll remember forever, so happy for them."
HER TIME WILL COME
Back to Clark, because what women's basketball story would be complete without an angle involving the most mesmerizing name in the sport at this point?
As she's been all season - all 26 days of it, as of Sunday - Clark was extremely gracious during her post-practice media scrum, turning the spotlight on her WNBA sorority members who will be named to the team.
"I'm excited for the girls that are on the team," Clark said. "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. So, I'm excited for them, gonna be rooting for them to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, so it'll be fun to watch."
Watch, while she's also getting some much-needed time off after what will have been a grueling nine months leading up to the All-Star and Olympic Break.
Clark's schedule has been non-stop since the start of her final season at Iowa back in November and intensified once she turned professional.
"It's gonna be really nice," Clark said when asked about looking forward to a break. "I mean, I've loved competing every single second, but it's gonna be a great month for my body to, first of all, get rest and get healthy and just a little time away from basketball and the craziness of everything that's been going on, and just find some peace and quiet for myself."
Secondly, she said it'll be a perfect time for the Fever to work on things they've barely gotten to practice and tweak since the season started and improve upon before the second half of the season resumes in mid-August.
"A great opportunity for myself to get in the weight room, to work on the court and work at things that I want to get better at, that I maybe didn't have time going from college to the pro season," Clark added. "So, I'm looking forward to it."
