Caitlin Clark has been left off the United States national women’s basketball team for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris — and although the player herself has said she will take the omission as a learning opportunity, others have opted for heavy criticism of coach Cheryl Reeve, and of the national team’s veteran players.
Some believe that Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi has “taken” Clark‘s spot on the plane to Paris, a narrative motivated by Taurasi’s needling of the Indiana Fever rookie before she officially entered the WNBA. But Taurasi — like most of the W — understands that Clark is a special talent, and in a new interview, she discussed the one thing the Fever sharpshooter needs to do to ensure she is on the plane for the 2028 Games.
Clark’s time is coming, and Taurasi knows it
In an interview with USA Today, Taurasi — who will soon take part in her sixth Olympic Games — reminisced on her first national Olympics call-up, way back in 2004. Like Clark, Taurasi was the first overall pick in that year’s draft — and she acknowledged how challenging it was to be a 22-year-old on a team stacked with veterans.
“I was the youngest on that team by far,” Taurasi said of a group that included Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, and Tina Thompson. “Just amazing, amazing veterans took me under their wing and really showed me the ropes.”
Taurasi won her first of five gold medals in the summer of 2004 — and now, at 42 years old, she’s going for her sixth in France next month. It’s an opportunity Clark will not have…yet. Taurasi is a living testament to preparation and hard work paying off handsomely — in addition to her gold medals, the legendary guard is the WNBA’s all-time top scorer and a three-time WNBA Finals champion.
“The game of basketball is all about evolving. It’s all about getting comfortable with your surroundings,” Taurasi told USA Today. “College basketball is much different than the WNBA than it is overseas. Each one almost is like a different dance you have to learn. And once you learn the steps and the rhythm and you have a skill set that is superior to everyone else, everything else will fall into place.”
Taurasi seemingly acknowledged that Clark’s abilities — defined by her 3-point proficiency — will make her an undeniable superstar in pro basketball, and in all likelihood a shoo-in for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. All she needs is time.
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