Caitlin Clark looks re-energized at Team USA camp after eight months out with nagging injuries; her improved conditioning suggests she could return as a high-usage scorer in early FIBA qualifiers. For bettors, Clark’s expected minutes and scoring bump make her a strong prop candidate, while cautious lines on assists and turnovers could be priced higher until she logs competitive game reps.
Caitlin Clark Impresses at Team USA Minicamp Ahead of FIBA Qualifiers
Caitlin Clark returned to Team USA practices feeling better than she expected after roughly eight months away from in-game action. The WNBA point guard, who last played on July 15 for the Indiana Fever, has been working through a series of nagging injuries and focused this camp on restoring conditioning before the FIBA World Cup qualifying slate.
Injury Timeline and Candid Take on the 2025 Season
Clark missed the remainder of last season after dealing with groin issues and a bone bruise in her left ankle, on top of an earlier quad strain that sidelined her for two weeks. She admitted trying to push through injuries, which contributed to limited availability. “I felt like I put in so much time and so much energy going into last season and then obviously I appeared in only about 13 games. And some of those, probably wasn’t as healthy as I should’ve been,” she said.
Clark also expressed relief that her problems were nagging injuries rather than catastrophic ones. “It’s not like I hurt my knee or tore my Achilles, or something like that — it was these kind of nagging injuries that would build up and build up, and dealt with one on top of the other,” she added.
Conditioning, Confidence and On-Court Feel
Practice reps with Team USA served as a positive checkpoint. Clark reported feeling sharp and closer to her normal self sooner than she expected. “I think the first USA camp was a great checkpoint for me and I felt really great… Sometimes, I thought maybe it would take me a day or two to really get my first step back. But I felt like myself out there,” she said, noting the mental toll of repeatedly rehabbing and trying to return.
Her current focus is rebuilding conditioning to translate practice energy into competitive minutes during the qualifying window.
Schedule and Roster Notes for the Qualifying Window
Team USA opens qualifying vs. Senegal on March 11, then faces Puerto Rico the following day. The roster will also take on Italy, New Zealand and Spain in subsequent games. Tip times for those matchups will be announced.
Monique Billings and Rae Burrell have been added to the roster, replacing Aliyah Boston and Sonia Citron, who are sidelined with lower-body injuries.
Betting and Fantasy Implications
Clark’s strong feel in camp and emphasis on conditioning suggest she could log significant minutes early in the qualifiers.
Bettors should consider her as a viable scoring prop target while monitoring minutes and usage in the first contest.
Expect cautious market lines on assists and turnovers until Clark accumulates a few competitive games.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese reunited again as two Team USA stars 'unable to compete'
Roster changes also open opportunities for Billings and Burrell in rebounds and scoring props.
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