The entire basketball world is so focused on the United States national basketball team that the women’s team seems to have flown under the radar. For those unfamiliar with Team USA women’s basketball, they recently defeated Germany in a USAB Showcase game. However, the women’s national team is missing the two biggest sensations to enter the WNBA this year, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

WNBA legend and four-time champion Lindsay Whalen was recently a guest on SiriusXM NBA Radio. The former WNBA star then explained why neither of the two rookies made the cut for Team USA’s women’s team. She mentioned how the core group of players has trained together for the past four years. And the amount of chemistry and understanding they’ve been able to build with each other has been priceless.

“This is a four-year process to build this team. And there’s training camps and there’s practices and there’s, I’m sure, Zoom calls. There’s so much that goes into it that I understand. Obviously, we have some incredible young players and rookies that have brought so much to the league.”

Lindsay made a very valid point about team chemistry. As she said, putting together the national team to represent the country is a little different than putting together the men’s national team.

“But we’re talking about an Olympic team. For me, it was just a matter of timing and availability. Not through anyone’s fault. Caitlin-Angel, they’re in college and they’re trying to win national championships. And this group here is training and practicing to win a gold medal.”

In addition, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were still in college when the current women’s national team roster was still in its four-year process, competing against each other and for NCAA titles.

So it is perfectly understandable that you do not want to mess with the chemistry of the current core group. However, there is a good chance that, if not both, then at least one of the two will eventually make the cut for the national women’s team for the next series of international events.

Caitlin Clark opens up about the current women’s national team

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark was recently asked to share her thoughts on the current roster of the women’s national basketball team.

“I’m excited for the girls that are on the team and I know it’s the most competitive team in the world. And I know I could have gone either way: I was on the team or I wasn’t. So I’m excited for them. I’m going to cheer them on to win gold.”

When asked if she was disappointed not to make the team, Clark displayed unparalleled sportsmanship.

“Honestly, no disappointment. It just gives you something to work for, you know, that’s the dream. Hopefully I can be there one day.”

Clark is fine with not being in the squad. However, she did say she would like to play for the national women’s team, in case someone on the squad gets injured unexpectedly.

Hopefully no player gets injured during this period, but if they do, it would be a historic moment for Caitlin Clark to represent her country on one of the biggest stages ever: the Olympic Games.