Clark, Reese among group making USA Basketball camp debut

Caitlin Clark will make her USA Basketball senior national team camp debut when the Americans get together at Duke next month.

The Indiana Fever All-Star, who missed the second half of the WNBA season with a groin injury, had been invited to a few camps while she was in college at Iowa, but the timing didn't work out.

She'll be there alongside first-timers Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, Sonia Citron, Veronica Burton, Kiki Iriafen and Rickea Jackson. College players Lauren Betts of UCLA and JuJu Watkins of Southern California are also invited. Watkins is out for the season while recovering from an ACL injury she suffered in the NCAA Tournament last season.

The newcomers will be joined by Paris Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. Dearica Hamby, who won a bronze medal in 3-on-3 at the 2024 Games, also will participate in the camp. Brioona Jones, who helped the U.S. win gold at the 2022 FIBA World Cup, also will be in North Carolina at the camp, as will Aliyah Boston.

Kara Lawson, who was chosen as the U.S. coach by Sue Bird in September, will lead the camp from Dec. 12-14 at Duke.

She'll be joined by WNBA coaches Nate Tibbetts of Phoenix, Stephanie White of Indiana and Natalie Nakase of Golden State.

The U.S. will play in Puerto Rico in March for the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifier. The Americans, who have already qualified for the World Cup next year in Germany, are in a pool with Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Senegal and Spain.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball