Why Caitlin Clark’s Olympic absence could be a blessing in disguise for her debut season

Caitlin Clark was beaming, she was beaming like a student who just finished her last exam of the semester.

“I’m on vacation,” she said as she began her post-game press conference at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. “This is the last time for a month, so ask your questions now.”

She got a welcome break. For the first time since March 2023, she got an extended break, as the WNBA season was suspended for 24 days for the Paris Olympics. “I really can’t wait to not touch a basketball for a while,” Clark said.

While Clark’s absence from the U.S. Olympic team has caused an uproar among fans, her absence from the squad may turn out to be one of the best things that has happened to her as a rookie. Staying off Team USA has given her more than just motivation: time.

Caitlin Clark concludes her first WNBA All-Star Weekend photo.twitter.com/VuQvAmO2KI

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 21, 2024

Hers has been a grind—albeit a successful one—that few athletes can match, even most of her rookie class contemporaries. As one of the sport’s biggest stars, she’s squeezed cross-country trips for awards shows and appearances into a schedule built around practices and games (69 in all, including college and WNBA preseason action). After playing more minutes per game than any WNBA rookie in the past 20 years, she was ready for a break. With a chance to catch her breath, Clark seems poised to capitalize when WNBA play resumes.

“There has to come a point where that has to stop and you have to take care of yourself and do things for yourself,” she said. “I think relaxing and reflecting on everything that’s happened to me this past year is going to be super important because my life has gone by so fast.”

Clark established herself as a force to be reckoned with in college, playing all 139 games for Iowa in four spectacular seasons — the last two as the national player of the year. Her total minutes — 4,832 — were the most of any Division I player in her four years at the school. During that span, she was one of only five to play more than 4,500 minutes and the only one to top the 4,700-minute mark.

She hasn’t slowed down in the WNBA, either in terms of productivity or workload. She already carries the responsibility of a seasoned veteran. Clark leads the WNBA in assists, 3-point field goal attempts, turnovers and games played. Her 914 first-half minutes are second-most in the league this season, and she’s one of only three players to have played more than 850 minutes so far.

And all that after a full college campaign, with just 21 days between Iowa’s appearance in the national championship in April and the start of WNBA training camp later that month.

Only 52 Division I players have played at least 1,300 minutes in a college basketball season over the past 15 years. Only three (Clark, Kelsey Plum and Maddy Siegrist) were drafted. Clark has surpassed each of their season minute totals (Plum played 711 and Siegrist played 319).

Clark’s career also got off to a particularly rough start. Indiana opened with 11 games in 20 days. Plum played just six games in 20 days to open her 2017 rookie season. Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson both appeared in seven games in 2016 and 2018, respectively. Even Clark’s Fever teammate Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, has played in six games in her first 20 pro days.

The quick transition from college to pro is unique to women’s basketball — for all players. Angel Reese, another standout rookie, led LSU deep into the NCAA Tournament while also stealing the spotlight and has similarly made a successful leap to the WNBA. (She set a league record with 15 consecutive double-doubles with the Chicago Sky.)

She and Clark were also selected as the first rookie pair to participate in the WNBA All-Star Game since 2014.

“You’re off and running right away,” said Storm veteran Nneka Ogwumike, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2012 — another Olympic season. “Within a week (of the draft), you’re in your market and you really have no breathing room. Because you’re in an Olympic year, you have a lot of extra time to get your bearings and figure out the transition of everything.”

This year’s rookie class is also playing under a brighter spotlight than the WNBA has ever seen, with higher television ratings and a multitude of marketing opportunities — and responsibilities. Clark and Reese have sponsorship deals to manage. Clark appeared on “Saturday Night Live” ahead of the WNBA Draft. She’s brokered an upcoming signature sneaker deal with Nike.

Reese famously squeezed in an appearance at the Met Gala in New York before heading back to Chicago for a pre-season competition. During the ongoing midsummer break, she attended French luxury conglomerate LVMH’s pre-Olympic party. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Clark said of her busy year.

But that doesn’t mean she and Reese aren’t looking forward to recharging. Clark wasn’t specific about her plans for the Olympic break, but said she plans to leave her phone off for at least part of the break. She said she won’t touch a basketball for at least a week. Her teammate, Lexie Hull, said they have plans for a trip to Mexico.

“I’ve been playing basketball for a year. Just taking some time to catch my breath,” Clark said. “Just getting away from it all and really enjoying it, because the last year has been crazy, obviously. … It’ll be good for me to get away from it all and just reflect and take it all in.”

A second-half revival seems likely for both Clark and the Fever, who are 11-15 overall but 9-6 in their last 15 games.

During All-Star weekend in Phoenix, Clark joked that she sprints everywhere. Her last run before her break officially began was outside the media room. After answering a final question about her game-high 10 assists, she quickly stood up and waved goodbye.

“I wish you a happy month,” Clark said.

— The AthleticsSabreena Merchant contributed to this report.

(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletics; Visual data: John Bradford / The Athletics; Photos of Caitlin Clark: Alex Slitz/Getty Images, Kate Frese/Getty Images)