Caitlin Clark's Olympic Snub Fuels Her Determination

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides expresses disappointment over Caitlin Clark's exclusion from the U.S. Olympic national women's basketball team roster, revealing Clark's competitive spirit and unwavering focus on self-improvement.

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides voiced her disappointment with the decision to omit Caitlin Clark from the U.S. Olympic national women's basketball team roster, praising Clark's competitive nature and resilience in the face of the snub.

Clark, a highly touted rookie, was informed of her omission while on the team bus, prompting her to relay the news to Sides via text message. Sides immediately offered words of encouragement, emphasizing the elite status and intense competition surrounding the Olympic roster.

"A little disappointed, of course. She's my player," Sides explained to the Indy Star. "You know, that's the hardest team in the world to make. That is a tough team. She's young. She's going to have so many opportunities in the future."

Despite the setback, Clark vowed to channel her disappointment into increased motivation and focused determination, a reaction that impressed Sides.

"She texted me to let me know. I just tried to keep her spirits (up). The thing she said is, 'Hey, coach. They woke a monster' – which I thought was awesome," Sides recounted.

Sides marveled at Clark's competitive spirit and relentless work ethic, predicting that the Olympic snub would only serve as additional fuel for her drive.

"I don't know, man. It's pretty scary, right? She's one of the most competitive people I know. She's a worker and that's what she's gonna do. This just gave her another opportunity to get in the gym and do more work," Sides asserted.

Both Sides and Clark recognized the silver lining in the situation, namely the opportunity for Clark to rest and recover during the period between the Olympics and the start of the regular season.

"She said, 'Coach, I just want to focus on our team,' as well. That is really good to hear from her too," Sides said.

Clark herself displayed grace and professionalism in her response to the news, expressing support for her teammates who made the Olympic squad.

"I'm excited for the girls who are on the team. I know it's the most competitive team in the world and I know it could've gone either way – me being on the team, me not being on the team," Clark said via The Athletic. "So, I'm excited for them. I'm going to be rooting them on to win gold."

Despite the disappointment, Clark remains optimistic about her future prospects, viewing the Olympic snub as a source of motivation for continued growth and improvement.

"No disappointment. I think it just gives you something to work for. That's a dream. Hopefully, one day I can be there. I think it's just a little more motivation. You remember that. And hopefully in four years, when four years comes back around, I can be there," Clark declared.