Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum were both caught doing the same thing in the tunnel after Team USA games and fans couldn’t get enough of it
Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum were both caught doing the same thing after Team USA games(Image: Getty)
Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum provided some of the most entertaining moments of Team USA’s perfect run through the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and not all of them came on the basketball court.
On separate occasions during the tournament, both players were caught on camera trying to sneak past reporters in the tunnel after games, sending fans into a frenzy on social media and providing some light relief during an otherwise dominant week for the Americans.
Clark, who is set for a massive pay bump after the new WNBA deal, was the first to set the trend. After Team USA’s 93-59 demolition of Italy to improve to 3-0 in the competition, the Indiana Fever guard was spotted walking too close to the FIBA backdrop as she made her way through the tunnel, seemingly trying to avoid the cameras and media altogether.
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Plum clearly took note. One day later, after Team USA’s 101-46 thrashing of New Zealand, the Los Angeles Sparks veteran pulled a similar move, ducking slightly and using her teammates as a human shield to block herself from the waiting reporters.
The tunnel antics aside, Clark had every reason to feel good about her week. The 24-year-old was returning from an eight-month absence after a groin injury had derailed her sophomore WNBA season, limiting her to just 13 appearances.
She had not played competitively since July 15 of last year, making her senior Team USA debut against Senegal particularly significant.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have joined forces on Team USA(Image: Photo by Alexa Alejandro/FIBA via Getty Images)
She announced herself in style, posting 17 points and 12 assists in just 19 minutes, the second-most assists ever recorded in a FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying game.
She maintained that level throughout the tournament, finishing with averages of 11.6 points and 6.4 assists on 52.9% shooting from the field, including 40% from three-point range, across all five games.
She logged more minutes than anyone on the squad, averaging 21.2 per contest despite starting only once. Her performances earned her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, with Team USA completing a 5-0 week with victories coming by an average of 42 points.
Caitlin Clark has enjoyed getting ‘tossed into the fire’ with Team USA(Image: Getty)
After the tournament concluded with an 84-70 win over Spain, Clark reflected on the experience in a post on Instagram. “Fun being back out there,” she wrote. “Always an honor.”
Her Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell replied simply: “MVP.” The WNBA season tips off on May 9, and if Puerto Rico was any indication, Clark is back to her very best.
Off the court, the WNBA has also reached a landmark new collective bargaining agreement, ending months of tense negotiations between the league and the players’ association.
The deal, pending final ratification, includes major financial increases, with salaries expected to rise significantly, a new $7 million team salary cap, and players receiving around 20% of league revenue.