Caitlin Clark Facebook via Iowa Women’s Basketball
By Qwame Skinner on

The WNBA community has been starved for more Caitlin Clark since the Indiana Fever phenom missed most of her sophomore season as a professional with various injuries, most notably a groin that kept her out of every game post-All-Star break, including Indiana’s playoff run.

Even without Clark, the WNBA experienced a record-breaking season in television viewership and game attendance, priming the league’s talent for a massive pay bump at the conclusion of the still ongoing CBA negotiations.

However, everyone who has missed Clark’s sharpshooting ability finally got what they’ve been missing on Friday, as the US women’s basketball team held its first camp practice in preparation for March’s upcoming 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and Clark was back to compete against the nation’s top talent.

The national team has a new managing director in WNBA legend Sue Bird, who commended Calrk’s maturity in returning to competition after missing so much time with injury.

“The first thing that came to mind, and this comes to the whole Indiana Fever, they did a great job engaging in their season…I thought what was most impressive was the way she stayed engaged…that speaks to her maturity,” Bird said.

Along with Clark, Bird made sure to bring some of the WNBA’s other top young talent to camp. Here are the three most exciting moments of that talent from the team’s first camp practice.

In the first clip, Clark showcases her signature range when shooting going left.

In the second, reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers sends Clark flying with a pump fake before drilling a corner shot.

In the third, Washington Mystics breakout guard Sonia Citron finished a tough bucket after a smooth dish from Bueckers off of a double team.

The national team may be passing the torch in ways, with legend Diana Taurasi retiring from WNBA and international ball, but it’s clear that the country is in great hands.

About Qwame Skinner

Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.

View all posts by Qwame Skinner