Caitlin Clark set for Team USA debut after 8-month injury layoff - ESPN

Caitlin Clark is excited to make her U.S. national team debut next week when the Americans play in the FIBA World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico.

It will be Clark's first game play in about eight months since a multitude of injuries derailed her WNBA season with the Indiana Fever in July.

«It'll probably take a me a second to knock a little bit of the rust off. 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,» Clark said Saturday. «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.»

It's been quite a road back for Clark who played in 13 games last season. She had groin injuries and then a bone bruise in her left ankle. She's been in the gym getting ready, working with the Fever medical team and player developmental staff over the last few months.

«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,» Clark said of the injuries. «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.»

Clark has fond memories of playing with younger USA Basketball teams. She recalled being in Colorado Springs in her teens and going into a room filled with jerseys of past American greats.

«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