A few months ago, Caitlin Clark’s absence from the U.S. women’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics sparked heated debate, even as the team rolled to its eighth consecutive gold medal. Let’s face it, the U.S. has dominated Olympic basketball for decades, and last summer’s victory only cemented that dominance. Clark’s presence wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but it certainly would have focused more eyes on women’s hoops around the world. Her next chance to shine on the big stage will come in her home country at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
By then, she could be rolling in as a WNBA champion, carrying the U.S. flag as the team’s standard-bearer, or – craziest of all – competing in two completely different sports: basketball and flag football, which is making its Olympic debut that year. Clark is already out there pushing the latter, showing up at an NFL event to hype flag football for young athletes. Funny thing is, the NFL sometimes seems to get more mileage out of her star power than the WNBA – go figure.
Clark’s Playful Pitch for Flag Football
At the NFL’s Annual League Meeting in Florida, Clark stepped up alongside Serena Williams-the tennis icon with more majors than anyone-to drum up excitement for flag football ahead of the 2028 Olympics. A lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan (just ask Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, who’ve had her at playoff games in her suit), Clark got personal about her love for the game. “Growing up, I had an older brother who played football, and my grandfather coached it for over 40 years,” she said. “I always thought, ‘Why can’t I play flag football?’ I’d have jumped at it, loved every minute.”
Then came the kicker, delivered with a sly smile: “Maybe LA 2028, maybe I’ll do two sports.” Now, pulling off both basketball and flag football at the Olympics sounds next to impossible-the physical toll and differences between the sports are no joke. If it were 3×3 and 5×5 basketball, I’d bet on her in a heartbeat, but this? It’s more about her boosting flag football than a serious plan. Still, you’ve got to love the spark she brings.
Clark is A Star With the World at Her Feet
By 2028, Clark could be more than just a basketball phenom – she could be the face of the entire U.S. Olympic delegation. At just 23, she’s already rewriting the script for women’s sports. Her rookie WNBA season with the Indiana Fever didn’t just break records-it shattered them, with 337 assists and 769 points, leading her team to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The league saw its best ratings, ticket sales, and buzz ever, thanks in large part to her.
She’s not only the WNBA’s top draw, she’s arguably the biggest name in women’s athletics right now. TIME magazine named her Athlete of the Year, and that’s just the beginning. As she enters her second season under new coach Stephanie White on May 16, I’d wager she’ll top her rookie stats and maybe even win her first playoff series. By the 2028 Olympics, she could be waving the flag, hoisting a WNBA trophy, or at least dreaming big about a two-sport career.
Clark’s nod to flag football may be a stretch, but it shows how her influence extends beyond the hardwood. Whether she’s sinking jumpers or talking up a new Olympic event, she’s rewriting what’s possible in women’s sports. The road to LA 2028 is still years away, but one thing is certain: Caitlin Clark’s name will be at the forefront when it happens.
Read the full article here
