A string of injuries<\/a> sidelined Clark for much of the past eight months, limiting the NCAA\u2019s all-time scoring leader to 13 games in her second WNBA season.<\/p>\n Clark\u2019s last WNBA appearance came in July. She said Saturday she may be rusty and slightly nervous for the qualifier.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It’ll probably take me a second to knock a little bit of the rust off,” she said.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/a><\/p>\n Caitlin Clark during the United States women’s basketball training camp at Duke University Dec. 13, 2025, in Durham, N.C. (Jacob Kupferman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n “I’ll probably be a little bit nervous, which, I usually don’t get nervous, but that probably comes from I haven’t really played basketball in a while.”<\/p>\n But Clark projected that any rust would quickly wear off.<\/p>\n “I’m sure after the first minute of running around on the court, I’ll be just fine. But more than anything, just really excited. I know how much work and how much time I put in to make sure my body’s as healthy as it can be and to get back.”<\/p>\n Clark\u2019s injury setbacks last year included a groin strain followed by an ankle bone bruise. The Fever\u2019s medical staff closely monitored her recovery as she worked toward returning to the court.<\/p>\n Cameron Brink (33) celebrates with Caitlin Clark (17) during the United States women’s basketball team’s training camp at Duke University Dec. 13, 2025, in Durham, N.C. (Jacob Kupferman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Clark suggested that adversity has only reinforced her reliance on preparation and discipline.<\/p>\n “I’ve always been a person that’s going to just rely on my work. I feel like it’s certainly made me work harder,” the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year<\/a> said, referencing her injury setbacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n “But that’s also probably the part that kind of stunk about it is I felt like I put in so much time and so much energy going into last season and then, obviously, only appeared in about 13 games.”<\/p>\n Clark did not compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she reflected on the experience of seeing Team USA jerseys as a teenager and how that moment helped shape her dream of one day wearing one herself.<\/p>\n Caitlin Clark during the United States’ women’s basketball training camp at Duke University Dec. 12, 2025, in Durham, N.C. (Jacob Kupferman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n “My eyes were so wide. Thought it was the coolest thing in the world of all,” she said. “[To see] the senior national jerseys of great men’s players and women’s players. It’s a 15- or 16-year-old’s dream of doing that one day.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n With the 2026 FIBA Women\u2019s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics<\/a> on the horizon, Clark said she remains focused on steady progress rather than looking too far ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n “There’s a lot to get to that point,” she said. “Obviously, that’s my goal, the World Cup before that. There’s a lot for me to learn.”<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s sports coverage on X<\/a>, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Anticipation builds as Caitlin Clark’s Team USA debut nears following lengty injury layoff<\/p>\n Related Article Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n![\"Caitlin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/caitlin-clark-team-usa-030726.jpg\")
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