Caitlin Clark gets US Olympic camp invite as March Madness run continues

Caitlin Clark’s schedule for Final Four weekend is getting jam-packed.

On Thursday, USA Basketball confirmed it invited the Iowa basketball star to participate in the Olympic training camp in Cleveland from April 3-5.

That could create a bit of a problem if Clark and the top-seeded Hawkeyes are playing in their second straight Final Four on Apr. 5, with the national championship game two nights later.

Iowa star Caitlin Clark was invited to participate in the USA Women’s Basketball Olympic camp in Cleveland from April 3-5 Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Caitlin Clark in action for the Hawkeyes on March 10, 2024. Getty Images

Of course, Iowa still has to win two more games to get to the Cleveland finale, starting with Saturday’s Sweet 16 matchup against No. 5 Colorado in Albany.

A loss at MVP Arena would make plenty of headlines, but also potentially free up Clark for Olympic camp.

Clark has previously played on the USA junior teams, earning three gold medals with them, most recently with the U19 team in 2021.

The past two WNBA first-overall picks, Aliyah Boston and Rhyne Howard, will also be in attendance at the Cleveland Camp, with Clark expected to be the top selection by the Indiana Fever at the Apr. 15 draft.

Nine former Olympians will be at the camp, including Diana Taurasi, Ariel Atkins, Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Brittney Griner, Jewell Lloyd and Breanna Stewart.

It’s still unknown when the rosters for the USA’s 5-on-5 and 3×3 teams for the 2024 Olympics in Paris will be announced.

While Clark could be named to either team, the Americans have a lot of depth at the guard position.

USA Women’s Basketball is looking for its eighth consecutive 5-on-5 gold medal and also won the first 3×3 gold in the Tokyo Games.

Clark and the Hawkeyes would have to be eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in order for her to participate in the camp Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Of course, Clark would prefer the Hawkeyes make and win the National Championship in Cleveland, preventing her from participating in the camp.

They may be the number one seed in the Albany region, but they still have work to do.