INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark made the most of being left out of the U.S. Olympic team.
She took a trip to Mexico, attended a friend’s wedding in Iowa, and even got the chance to visit the New York Yankees’ clubhouse. When she returned to practice with the Indiana Fever, she was refreshed and ready to kickstart the WNBA season.
For Clark and the other rookies this year, the Olympic break was a much-needed rest before the final push towards the playoffs.
“The break was very helpful in resetting,” said Clark. “I was just starting to get comfortable with my teammates before the break, and it was necessary for me to recharge and come back stronger.”
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Clark wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
In Chicago, coach Teresa Weatherspoon noted that her rookies, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, returned with renewed energy after a demanding year.
These rookies experienced intense scrutiny from the start of college practices, and the break gave them a chance to recuperate.
The fast-paced transition from college to the WNBA meant they had little time off before jumping into their pro careers.
The rookies started a challenging 40-game regular season in mid-May, which was made more difficult by the compressed schedule due to the break.
“The break was a mental refresh for all of us,” said Reese. “We needed the rest because of the intense schedule and the long road trips. It was a luxury to have this break, and I’m looking forward to it every year now.”
Clark and Reese could potentially play for the U.S. team in the 2028 Olympics, while Cardoso aims to represent Brazil. Despite this, the break was beneficial for all three rookies this time.
Cardoso had extra time to recover from an injury, Reese and her teammates healed up, and Clark bonded with her teammates during the break.
Now, it’s time to focus on basketball again.
“We all need a game,” said Fever coach Christy Sides. “It’s time for some competition. It’s been a while.”
Indiana and Chicago are vying for the final two playoff spots in the league, with a tough schedule ahead for both teams.
The race to the playoffs is on, and the rookies are eager to get back on the court.
“We’re all ready to play more games,” said Clark. “The preparation has been good, but now we’re itching to compete.”
