Caitlin Clark says Olympics break from WNBA schedule was ‘necessary’ after quick transition from college

From being a senior in college and the star of the Iowa women’s basketball team that went to the national championship, to being drafted once and jumping into the WNBA season, a lot has happened in Caitlin Clark’s life in the past year.

The Indiana Fever star was left off the women’s Olympic basketball roster last summer, a decision that sparked much controversy, but Clark said the break in the WNBA season for the 2024 Paris Games was necessary.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM

“We had the Olympics off, so I got a month off in the middle of the season because we had to stop the WNBA season because, you know, 12 girls are going to play in the Olympics. And everybody, you’re not doing a lot, so [I] “I got a month off, which I really needed, obviously, because I’ve been playing basketball for a year straight,” Clark said during a recent appearance on “New Heights.”

The Fever started 1-8 but eventually finished 20-20 to enter the finals. A big reason for the Fever’s late season push was Clark’s improved play after the break.

Before the Olympic break, he was averaging 17.1 points per game. After the break, he looked rejuvenated, averaging 23.1 points per game on the road.

Jason Kelce asked how Clark would describe his whirlwind of a year in just two words.

CAITLIN CLARK SAYS SHE STARTED RECEIVING COLLEGE JOB LETTERS IN 7TH GRADE.

Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark poses for a photo with Lin Dunn and Christie Sides during her introductory press conference on April 17, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

“I would say, like, I don’t know, life changing maybe? All in a good way, like, I mean, things change really fast, as you know. That’s the way the world works and, especially with social media, people see a lot of your life, but that’s what makes it it’s fun and why I’ve had so many cool opportunities, and, it’s crazy, like looking back a year ago today or at this time, like, I was just starting my senior year in school,” Clark said.

“And obviously, you know, people knew who we were, and people were going to our games, but obviously not on the scale that it is now. So, like, life changes quickly, but that’s what makes it fun and cool and, you know, I immediately started a new chapter of life My, Like moving here to Indianapolis, and feeling lucky to still be in the Midwest [Jason and Travis Kelce] like the Midwest.”

Clark said she is looking forward to being able to have more of a routine in her second season with the Fever after a quick transition from college basketball to the WNBA.

HOW CAITLIN CLARK IS FIGHTING THE CULTURE WARS IN THE RUN FOR HISTORY 2024

Lisa Bluder and Caitlin Clark chat during practice for the NCAA women’s college basketball championship game between Iowa and South Carolina on April 6, 2024. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

“Yeah, sure, I mean it’s not a lot like any other professional game, actually, in theory, so I played in the national championship, and I went to the draft after that, I got picked, and then you pack it up and go. Like, you leave in April, you don’t even finish the year college major,” Clark said.

“And I think you guys, what was it, you went to [NFL] mix, how long have you been preparing for the mix, two months? And then you get drafted, and you have a little time to get used to a new city, you have a camp, or whatever. Not really, like our camp is like a week and a half. “

But Clark also said there is an advantage to moving things quickly.

“I think it was a little bit better, and, like, you don’t have time to think too much, like, boom, boom, boom, boom, like you just go into the next one. But at the same time. , you don’t like, I feel like I didn’t finish the college chapter It was like you’re up and gone, but maybe that’s good. You don’t have a lot of time to think about it so think that’s definitely the most strange, you know, women’s basketball and college basketball, and, it’s that change just,” Clark said.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark speaks to the media during a press conference at the launch on April 17, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

Despite the rapid change in the WNBA, Clark is still successful.

She won WNBA Rookie of the Year, was named an All-Star and led the WNBA in assists while also setting the record for most assists in a season with 337.

Clark set the rookie record for most points scored in a season with 769, and made 122 3-pointers in her season, the second most in a single season in WNBA history.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.