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SPORTS Tuesday 23 april 2024

Caitlin Clark’s early play in WNBA will be her tryout for a roster spot

on US Olympic women’s team

By DOUG FEINBERG ing 3x3 training camp last
AP Basketball Writer weekend.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Rizzotti will get a first-hand
Caitlin Clark’s early play in look at Clark when the No.
WNBA will serve as her try- 1 pick in the draft opens her
out for a spot on the U.S. WNBA career at the Con-
Olympic women’s basket- necticut Sun on May 14.
ball team. Rizzotti is the president of
The women’s roster for the the Sun.
Paris Games won’t be de- If Clark makes the team,
termined before June 1. she wouldn’t be the first
Unable to attend the U.S. WNBA rookie to be on an
training camp this month, Olympic squad. Breanna
Clark will have the start of Stewart was the last one
her WNBA career to show to do it, making the team
the U.S. women’s basket- in 2016. The difference was
ball selection committee that Stewart had been part
whether she deserves a of the national team since
spot on the team. she was a sophomore in
Selection committee chair college, playing on the
Jennifer Rizzotti said she’ll 2014 World Cup squad.
be watching. While Clark has no senior
“You always want to intro- national team experience,
duce new players into the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark holds her jersey following a WNBA basketball news conference, she has played on junior
pool whether it’s for now Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. Associated Press USA teams. She won gold
or the future,” Rizzotti told medals at the 2019 and
The Associated Press. “We the camp wasn’t manda- pics, including playing an who all played on the To- 2021 FIBA U19 World Cups
stick to our principles of tal- tory to make the team, exhibition All-Star game kyo Games team in 2021. and the 2017 FIBA U16
ent, obviously, positional fit, but it certainly would have against WNBA players. Kelsey Plum, who owns an Americas Championship.
loyalty and experience. It’s helped the NCAA Division The U.S men’s basketball Olympic gold medal in 3x3, There were reports Clark
got to be a combination of I all-time scoring leader Olympic roster was an- and Sabrina Ionescu are potentially could’ve been
an entire body of work. It’s show the selection commit- nounced last week. also in the pool. part of the 3x3 team. but
still not going to be fair to tee she could hold her own The American women, “Thinking about Diana and Clark has said her focus is
some people.” against some of the best who are trying for an eighth Chelsea Gray and when playing on the 5-on-5 team.
Clark was invited to attend players in the world. The consecutive Olympic gold their careers are done, you “It’s where I want to be,”
the U.S. training camp in camp in Cleveland was the medal, have a talented want to make sure you’re Clark told the AP last week.
Cleveland, but it was held last one the U.S. had before group of guards in the pool. in a position with these up- “Three-on-three is really
during the Final Four when announcing its roster. The list includes five-time coming guards with Sabri- cool, I’ve just never done
she was still competing The team will get together Olympian Diana Taurasi as na, Kelsey and Caitlin that it. But 5-on-5 is the goal and
for a national champion- in Phoenix for a few days in well as Chelsea Gray, Ariel you feel good that our fu- the dream. q
ship with Iowa. Attending July right before the Olym- Atkins and Jewell Loyd, ture is set,” Rizzotti said dur-

Alcaraz and Nadal continue recovery

from injuries at Madrid Open

By TALES AZZONI Nadal, a record five-time Madrid, reducing his clay-
AP Sports Writer champion in Madrid, con- court preparations for his
MADRID (AP) — Carlos Al- tinues his comeback from French Open title defense.
caraz is back from injury injury by facing American The 24-time Grand Slam
to try to win a third con- wild-card Darwin Blanch in winner is still likely to have
secutive Madrid Open this the first round. The 22-time the Italian Open in Rome
week, with Rafael Nadal Grand Slam champion will to hone his clay game in
also in Monday’s draw but then meet 10th-seed Alex mid-May before the event
top-ranked Novak Djokovic de Minaur if he advances. at Roland Garros starts on
missing. Nadal lost to De Minaur in May 26.
Alcaraz will be competing the second round at the Djokovic is yet to win a title Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is unable to reach a shot by Grigor
in his first European clay- Barcelona Open last week this season after losing in the Dimitrov of Bulgaria during the Miami Open tennis tournament,
court event of the season in his first tournament for semifinals of Monte Carlo. Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
after skipping Monte Carlo more than three months. He also skipped the Miami Associated Press
and Barcelona because of The 37-year-old Nadal last tournament in March. Casper Ruud, who won the women’s field, with Swiatek
a right arm injury. won the Madrid title in Top-seeded Jannik Sinner, Barcelona title, faces Zhi- looking to win her first title
The 20-year-old Span- 2017, when he beat Domi- who beat Djokovic in the zhen Zhang or Miomir Kec- at the clay-court tourna-
iard begins his title de- nic Thiem in the final. Australian Open final, will manovic in the first round. ment. She will also be out
fense against Alexander Three-time champion open his Madrid campaign Top-ranked Iga Swiatek to capture a third consecu-
Shevchenko or Arthur Djokovic will not play for a against Lorenzo Sonego or and defending champion tive French Open title.q
Rinderknech. second consecutive year in a qualifier.
Aryna Sabalenka lead the