Caitlin Clark the All-Star guard was not selected to join Team USA at the Paris Olympics, and she found the best way to take revenge

More than most, Caitlin Clark understands the value of achieving consistency and working hard without much respite. It is the primary reason why the Indiana Fever‘s rookie sensation is not playing for the United States national team at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris — Clark needs a breather.

Clark had roughly a month between the end of her historic NCAA career at Iowa and the start of what is likely to be a stellar WNBA career. The 22-year-old guard has handled the pressure and the expectations as well as she can — Clark just participated in the WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, after all. But as she embarks on a well-earned vacation, Clark has been warned not to forget about her teammates.

Christie Sides wants Clark to keep working

In a recent interview, Fever head coach Christie Sides told the Spokesman-Review that Clark — after a quick getaway to Mexico — will be back in Indiana soon, alongside the vast majority of her teammates. The goal? To improve team chemistry for the remainder of the season.

“The time that we’re going to get to spend, that will help chemistry-wise,” Sides said. “This is when they’ll get to practice and spend some time together not just on the road.”

The Fever began the season with 10 losses from their first 13 games, putting Sides under some pressure at the start of Clark’s career. However, Clark’s improvement has lifted everyone around her, and Indiana — now 11-15 — would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

The Fever sent three players to the All-Star Game last weekend, which Clark started for Team WNBA. The franchise is still convinced that Clark and center Aliyah Boston will herald a period of championship contention — and with most of the team’s players hanging around Indiana for the next few weeks, Clark has a chance to set the tempo and point the way toward the playoffs in her debut season.