Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has won praise online after speaking warmly about the honour of representing the United States at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, her first appearance for the national team having been overlooked two years ago. Her comments, made before Team USA's opening game against China, come amid a wider debate about how prominently American athletes, particularly in the WNBA, display patriotism, and follow a perceived shift in national pride across US sport this year.

Speaking to FIBA's official website, Clark said she felt "lucky" to have the opportunity to play for the USA as well as in the WNBA, adding that many others "would kill" to be in her position. The remarks quickly went viral, echoing similar displays of patriotism seen this year from the men's and women's Olympic hockey teams, the World Baseball Classic squad and the men's football team, several years after the women's football team drew criticism over the issue.