Caitlin Clark played a pivotal role in the WNBA All-Star team’s victory over Team USA and head coach Cheryl Reeve on Saturday night.
Alongside Angel Reese, Clark was motivated by their omission from the Olympic roster and looks forward to their chance to represent the United States in the next Olympics in four years.
Their performance makes it increasingly difficult to deny them spots on the team for Los Angeles if they continue to excel.
Team WNBA secured an eight-point win in the highly competitive exhibition game, which Clark sees as a testament to the league’s talent rather than mere vindication for her snub. Although she wanted to play in Paris, she looks forward to the rest, believing Team USA will be just fine.
RELATED: Angel Reese Makes Her Feelings Clear About Caitlin Clark During WNBA All-Star Game
Reeve, who has been noticeably standoffish toward Clark over the past three months, experienced her second loss to the 22-year-old Indiana Fever superstar within a week on Saturday.
Despite being humbled twice in seven days, Reeve’s demeanor remained sharp and terse.
As the team prepares for international competition, Reeve might need an attitude adjustment, as international reporters are unlikely to stop questioning her about the biggest star in women’s basketball. Persisting in bitterness will only worsen her optics. The decision to leave Clark off the team was always going to be controversial, so she needs to confront it head-on.
Compounding the issue, Team USA was clearly focused on Clark throughout the game. Reeve chose to faceguard Clark for the entire 26 minutes she was on the floor, yet still couldn’t stop her.
During the second half, Kelsey Plum applied intense defense on Clark, but Clark managed to break through and deliver a perfect pass to Aliyah Boston for an easy two points, showcasing her playmaking ability in a crucial moment.
Clark finished the game with 10 assists, though she only scored four points and grabbed one rebound. Many of her three-point attempts frustratingly rattled in and out, but her distribution was impeccable. Angel Reese, benefiting from Clark’s precise passing, secured another double-double.
Neither rookie was selected for Team USA in 2024, but both look forward to playing together in Los Angeles in 2028.
However, Reeve will need to overcome her reservations and allow them onto the team first. The clash between Reeve and Clark has become a focal point, and the team’s success could depend on resolving this dynamic.
The WNBA All-Star Game highlighted not just the talent of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, but also the ongoing narrative surrounding their exclusion from Team USA. As these young stars continue to prove themselves, the pressure will mount for Reeve to integrate them into future rosters. The journey to the next Olympics is just beginning, and the basketball world will be watching closely to see how it unfolds.
