Caitlin Clark offered some intriguing insight into her competitive mindset when she reunited with Jason and Travis Kelce on the brothers' New Heights podcast.
On a special New Year's Eve episode of New Heights, Clark talked for a few minutes about this month's three-day USA Basketball training camp, where she joined Paige Bueckers and 17 other players who are hoping to earn selection to the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup roster.
Despite missing all but 13 games of the 2025 WNBA season, Clark told the Kelces that she was more than ready for the challenge of proving herself in front of national team coach Kara Lawson.
"I wouldn't have wanted it any other way to get thrown back out there with the best players in the world," Clark said of the three-day training camp on the campus of Duke University in Durham, N.C.
MORE: Fever's Caitlin Clark reveals the 'coolest' development of her WNBA career
After a long year of nagging injuries, Clark said her groin and quad issues forced her to relearn how to run. Despite that, she said that she felt as good as she did in 2024, when she was named WNBA Rookie of the Year and placed fourth in league MVP voting.
The positive vibes from USA Basketball training camp signal the start of a new cycle in Clark's career as she eyes her full national team debut. She wants to be in Germany for the World Cup next September, which would pave the way for her inclusion on the roster for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"Hopefully I'm on the team for (the World Cup)," Clark said. "My goal is to be on the Olympic team in 2028. It feels like it's far away, but it's probably way closer than it sounds."
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