The WNBA offseason is currently a mix of high-stakes drama and massive question marks. With the new CBA negotiations still looming over the 2026 season like a dark cloud, the Unrivaled league has successfully captured the spotlight. Their highly anticipated 1-on-1 tournament officially tips off today, featuring a bracket loaded with the game’s elite: Paige Bueckers, Aliyah Boston, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum are all vying for that $200,000 top prize.
While the absence of 2025 champion Napheesa Collier is a blow to the field, the bigger headlines involve the two biggest rookies of last year. While Caitlin Clark remains on the sidelines, Angel Reese, the reigning league champion with Team Rose, surprised fans by announcing she’s suiting up for her squad immediately.
Caitlin Clark’s Team USA Debut
The mystery surrounding Caitlin Clark’s health is finally coming to an end. After a 2025 sophomore campaign with the Indiana Fever that felt more like a medical residency, playing just 13 games before being shut down with quad and groin injuries, Clark hasn’t seen competitive action since July 15th.
She famously bypassed a massive “Unrivaled” offer to prioritize her recovery, and we now know where that rehab has led her. Clark isn’t returning to the WNBA first; she’s heading to the international stage.
She is officially set to make her senior national team debut at the Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico, running from March 11th to 17th. This isn’t a sudden decision, as Clark was already back in the mix during a three-day training minicamp at Duke University this past December.
Seeing her share the floor with fellow stars like Bueckers and Reese was a promising sign for fans who were worried about her longevity. While she was a controversial omission from the Paris 2024 squad, this trip to San Juan is widely considered the first official chapter of her journey toward being the face of the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
Can Clark Shake Off the Rust Against International Elite?
The biggest narrative heading into Puerto Rico won’t be whether the U.S. wins, they’ve already technically punched their ticket to Berlin, but how Clark looks after the longest layoff of her career.
There is a glaring contrast between Clark and her 11 teammates on the roster: every other player has been keeping their gears turning in the high-intensity, high-speed environment of the Unrivaled league. Clark, by comparison, will be stepping onto a professional court after an eight-month hiatus.
This “injury bug” is a complete anomaly for Clark. During her legendary four-year run at Iowa, she was the ultimate ironwoman, starting all 139 games of her career. She followed that up by playing every single game of her historic 2024 WNBA rookie of the year season.
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