On Saturday afternoon, Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark got the unfortunate news that she had not been selected for the Team USA women’s basketball team for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France later this summer. And it sounds like she is going to use the decision for motivation going forward.
While Caitlin Clark herself has not made any public comments since she was snubbed by Team USA, her Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides did speak to the media where she revealed Clark’s strong reaction to getting passed up by Team USA.
“We talked, actually, on the bus. She got the call on the bus, and she texted me to let me know. I just try to keep her spirits,” Sides said in a video shared by Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star. “One thing she said was ‘Hey coach, they woke a monster,’ which I thought was awesome.”
Needless to say, this reaction went absolutely viral on social media as people offered their comments.
I love athletes lol https://t.co/30I8k2xweJ
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) June 9, 2024
one thing i really like about caitlin clark so far is that she handles these things WAY better than the people purporting to "defend" her. a bunch of y'all need to follow her example https://t.co/Lozrt3KPOG
— 🎓 runnin'💛 (@busyxb) June 9, 2024
Yeah I wouldn’t want to be playing Caitlin next game. She’s going for 60. https://t.co/b6j5kvquCH
— matt (@MattyGrizz) June 9, 2024
“Hey coach, they woke a monster”
Watch out WNBA 👀 https://t.co/qJbVKXQdbG
— CaptnDadpants (@CaptainDadpants) June 9, 2024
The great ones don’t sulk about it. They use it as motivation 🍿 https://t.co/7xhPti7nkM
— Ben Fadden (@BenFaddenSD) June 9, 2024
LOVE IT. Like I said, this will be the best thing for her pro career. https://t.co/6qWUt0H9vp
— Jeremy Marks-Peltz (@JMP1063) June 9, 2024
Clark may not have the chance to represent the United States at the Olympics this offseason, but it sounds like she’s going to do everything she can to make them regret that decision.