Can Caitlin Clark play on the Canadian Olympic team? Explaining whether Fever star has dual citizenship
There’s a rumor beginning to gain traction among the cesspool that is social media, however, one that could very well put both arguments to rest. A growing number of Clark’s disciples believe she could actually swap the Stars and Stripes for the Maple Leaf to take part in Olympic competition this season
Why would Clark — a player with years of U.S. youth national team experience — do such a thing? Fan fiction is really en vogue this time of year, I suppose. The thought of Clark vanquishing her American compatriots might enliven a certain segment of her fanbase…much to her chagrin.
Regardless of the purposes of such tenuous grumblings, there’s clearly a large amount of viewers desperate for Clark’s presence at the 2024 Paris Games. Here’s what you need to know about the prospect of Clark featuring for another country in this year’s Summer Olympics.
Can Caitlin Clark play for the Canadian Olympic team?
Clark is not Canadian, nor are her parents, Anne and Brent. She was born and raised in Iowa, one of those Midwestern states that people regularly prop up as distinctly “American.” There are no legitimate connections between her and the Canadian national team.
That hasn’t stopped some from claiming (or joking) that she can sport Canada’s colors at the 2024 Paris Olympics, however.
If Clark’s parents were Canadian, they may pass on their citizenship to Clark, as she would be a first-generation descendant of a Canadian national. In those circumstances, she may have played for Canada at the Olympics, as she had yet to take part in a key senior competition with the United States. If she opted to join the Canadians for this year’s Olympic run, she would certainly give up her opportunity to wear the red, white, and blue again, barring unusual circumstances.
She might have a better case at playing for Italy in international competition, considering her mother retains some Sicilian history. She would have to seek Italian citizenship in that situation, as well, which would require Clark to prove that her mother’s parents were born in Italy and refused to gain any other citizenship (US or another) prior to her mother’s birth in Iowa.
That would be a strange option for Clark, however, given Italy didn’t even qualify for this year’s Olympic Games.
Did Caitlin Clark make the Olympic team?
Despite all the excitement surrounding Clark’s rise to the W, she was left off of this year’s Olympic selection. Head coach Cheryl Reeve elected to send a veteran-laden side to Paris, with just two players aged 26 or younger appearing in the squad: Aces guard Jackie Young and Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu.
Here’s a look at the team USA basketball is bringing to France’s capital this summer:
| Player | Position | WNBA Team |
| Napheesa Collier | F | Minnesota Lynx |
| Kahleah Copper | G | Phoenix Mercury |
| Chelsea Gray | G | Las Vegas Aces |
| Brittney Griner | C | Phoenix Mercury |
| Sabrina Ionescu | G | New York Liberty |
| Jewell Loyd | G | Seattle Storm |
| Kelsey Plum | G | Las Vegas Aces |
| Breanna Stewart | F | New York Liberty |
| Diana Taurasi | G | Phoenix Mercury |
| Alyssa Thomas | F | Connecticut Sun |
| A’ja Wilson | F | Las Vegas Aces |
| Jackie Young | G | Las Vegas Aces |
Where is Caitlin Clark from?
Clark hails from West Des Moines, Iowa, about a two-hour drive from the University of Iowa campus where she starred for four seasons.
She played high school ball at Dowling Catholic in her hometown, racking up numerous accolades during her prep career, from being the state’s leading scorer two years in a row to earning Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and Iowa Miss Basketball for her senior season. During her time in West Des Moines, she also nabbed two gold medals with Team USA: one at the 2017 U16 FIBA Americas Tournament, and one at the 2019 U19 FIBA World Cup
