The absence of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark from the U.S. women’s basketball team roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics shocked many fans and analysts. As one of the most prominent and beloved players in professional women’s basketball, her exclusion was met with widespread frustration and disbelief.
However, The Athletic’s Ben Pickman presents a different perspective, suggesting that missing out on the Olympics could actually be a blessing in disguise for Clark. According to Pickman, this unexpected break allows Clark to get some much-needed rest, which could be crucial for her long-term performance and career longevity.
“Clark’s 914 first-half minutes are the second most in the league this season, and she’s one of only three players to have played more than 850 minutes so far,” Pickman noted. “This workload follows a grueling college season, where she had just 21 days of rest between leading Iowa to the national championship in April and the start of WNBA training camp later that same month.”
Clark ranks just behind Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale in total minutes played, with both athletes surpassing the 900-minute mark. Incredibly, Clark has played more minutes per game than any WNBA rookie in the past two decades. When combined with the 1,357 minutes she logged during her senior season at Iowa, Clark has amassed a staggering 2,272 minutes in the last season and a half, with only a brief three-week hiatus.
Despite the heavy minutes, Clark has excelled in multiple statistical categories. She currently leads the WNBA in rebounding, averaging 8.2 boards per game. Additionally, she ranks fifth in made three-pointers per game (2.7), sixth in free-throw percentage (89.1%), and is tied for ninth in steals (1.5 per game), while also placing 11th in scoring with 17.1 points per game.
The silver lining for Clark and the Fever is that her Olympic absence may serve as a much-needed recharge. As the season progresses, the rest of the WNBA will have to contend with a rejuvenated Clark, who will be even more determined to lead her team to success and end the Fever’s seven-year playoff drought.
