Caitlin Clark warned everyone about her competitive nature.
The Fever rookie, who has been open about his fierce approach to the game, was ruthless when he blocked a shot from a younger player during a one-on-one matchup in Indiana on Tuesday.
But it was all in jest, and the boy was seen laughing with Clark after the fact, while another video showed him celebrating that he was named the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The joyous moment was captured by sports photographer Bri Lework during a community event in Indiana, where Clark and Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson joined Group 1001 and Habitat for Humanity to help build a new home for the Krost family in Boone County.
Clark played basketball with kids at an outdoor park and posed for photos with the Pacers and Fever mascots, as seen in snapshots on social media.
Clark was vocal about her competitive spirit during her time at the University of Iowa, when she became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball, and she has carried that mentality over to the professional level.
The incident comes after the United States Basketball Association announced on Tuesday that the 22-year-old guard was not included on the 12-man roster for the U.S. national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
As The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Monday, Clark, along with 2022 WNBA Player of the Year Breonna Jones of the Connecticut Suns, is at the top of the reserve list if the U.S. national team needs a replacement player.
Selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti said in a statement that the decision was based on basketball standards and how to best field a team to compete for Team USA’s eighth consecutive gold medal, not on the fame or attention Clark would bring to this summer’s Olympics.
Clark praised the 12-man roster while answering questions about it during practice Sunday and said he’s focused on the Fever and his own rookie season.
Clark and the Fever (3-10) will look to bounce back on Thursday when they take on the Dream (5-5) in Indianapolis.
