‘I’m on vacation!’ With no Olympics spot, Caitlin Clark finally gets some time off.
PHOENIX — Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark bounded up the stairs to the interview podium following Saturday night’s WNBA All-Star Game, exclaiming, “I’m on vacation!” As she sat down, grinning from ear to ear, she told media members, “Alright, last time for a month, get your questions in.”
Clark was giddy throughout the entire 6-minute availability, answering questions thoroughly and adding in some jokes. The entire time she was on the podium, though, she was thinking about one thing: This was her last obligation before she was officially on her first break from basketball in nearly a year.
Clark, who wasn’t picked for Team USA in the upcoming Paris Olympics, will now get a break until the Fever return Aug. 16.
While she didn’t say where she was going on vacation, she rejoiced at not having to see a basketball court for at least a little while.
“I honestly can’t wait to not touch a basketball for a while,” Clark said, laughing. “I’ve shot too many times in the past year.”
After those six minutes were over, she jumped out of her seat, told everyone to “have a nice month!” and quickly made her way down the stairs.
She finally has a break. A well-deserved one, at that.
“I’m loving that she’s going to get a breather and get some rest, just for our push after this Olympic break,” Fever coach Christie Sides said Wednesday. “I think it’s great for her, she’s just been going so hard for quite some time now, and this is just going to help her so much just to kind of decompress.”
Get the IU Insider newsletter in your inbox.
The latest Indiana Hoosiers news from IndyStar IU Insider Zach Osterman. Covering all things crimson on the court.
Clark had been playing high-level basketball non-stop dating back to September 2023, when her Iowa Hawkeyes starting prepping for the 2023-24 college season. She went through five months of the season and played the highest number of games possible, reaching the 2024 national championship game.
A week later, Clark was drafted to the Fever. Less than a month after she played her last college game with the Hawkeyes, she was in training camp to prepare for the beginning of her rookie season.
Especially with the rookie’s outward-facing fame, she’s easily recognized. She needs to be on all the time. Physically, mentally and emotionally, it has been nonstop for the Hawkeye-turned-Fever star. And she knows she needs time to unwind.
Really, it’s been an emotionally-draining first half of the season for most of the Fever players. They have been under increased scrutiny this season, with more fans and media than ever covering the Indiana team. The Fever’s opening schedule, 11 games in 20 days, didn’t help either. The condensed schedule gave a young Indiana team minimal time to practice, leading to a 2-9 record to start the season.
During that stretch, there were people on social media analyzing the body language of Clark, her new teammates and Sides. People called for Sides to be fired, called for other players to be traded and called for Clark to get into a “better situation.”
Since that opening stretch, the Fever have gone 9-6 for an 11-15 record at the break. It puts the Fever firmly in playoff position, sitting in seventh in the league.
And after a 26-game push, everyone needs time to decompress.
“What these guys have endured from 1-8, that start, against the best teams in the league, early back-to-backs, it was just tough,” Sides said. “It was tough on them, it was tough on all of us, and just the expectations, that was another game changer. It’s just that they kept showing up, trying to get better, even when we couldn’t practice, it was in video. Just the resiliency they’ve shown, I’m just so proud of them for that.”
Fever guard Lexie Hull said in a TikTok she and some of her teammates were heading to Mexico following their game against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday, but didn’t say who was joining her on the trip. The only Fever played that won’t have a break is Kristy Wallace, who is heading to the Olympics as part of Team Australia.
Clark, along with Fever second-year center Aliyah Boston and seventh-year guard Kelsey Mitchell, had to wait a few more days before officially starting their vacation. They had All-Star duties in Phoenix through Saturday night, culminating with a Team WNBA win, 117-109, over Team USA.
Now, they’re on vacation.
“I’m very excited,” Boston said following the game. “Very excited. I will be resting.”
Follow IndyStar Fever Insider Chloe Peterson on X at @chloepeterson67.
News
Watch: Caitlin Clark embraces friend-turned-rival Kate Martin ahead of crucial WNBA clash
Watch: Caitlin Clark embraces friend-turned-rival Kate Martin ahead of crucial WNBA clash WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin are set to take on each other as the Indiana Fever will host the Las Vegas Aces tonight. Their game is…
Caitlin Clark Responds To Serena Williams After Tennis Icon Makes Controversial “White People” Joke About Her At The ESPYs
Caitlin Clark Responds To Serena Williams After Tennis Icon Makes Controversial “White People” Joke About Her At The ESPYs Caitlin Clark has responded to Serena Williams’ “white people” joke following an eventful ESPY Awards ceremony. The former tennis star hosted the…
Video: Caitlin Clark Takes Elbow To Face In Fever Game… Where’s The Flagrant?!
Courtesy of WNBA Caitlin Clark took a big elbow to the face during the Fever’s loss to the Aces on Wednesday, and the WNBA superstar made it clear she’s over getting beaten up on a nightly basis! The incident happened on…
BREAKING: The WNBA organizers have officially spoken out and initiated an investigation into players involved in dirty plays involving physical contact with Caitlin Clark and others. These players face potential permanent bans and disciplinary actions, exciting fans.
BREAKING: The WNBA organizers have officially spoken out and initiated an investigation into players involved in dirty plays involving physical contact with Caitlin Clark and others. These players face potential permanent bans and disciplinary actions, exciting fans Caitlin Clark has…
Christie Sides THROWS Caitlin Clark Under the Bus After Fever’s 86-75 Loss to Aces!
In a post-game shocker, Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides did not hold back after her team’s 86-75 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. The most surprising moment came when Sides appeared to place the blame squarely on the…
Video: Caitlin Clark Visibly Upset After Taking Elbow To Face, Lack Of Flagrant Foul Against Aces Player
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark took a hard hit to the face from Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces and was visibly upset by the absence of a flagrant penalty. It was a bad night (and last 24 hours) for…
End of content
No more pages to load