Indiana Fevers head coach Christie Sides has revealed Caitlin Clark told her 'they woke a monster' after learning she would not be a part of Team USA's Olympic squad.
Clark entered the WNBA as the No 1 pick this year after a record-breaking collegiate career.
The eyes of the world have been on her ever since Clark made her WNBA debut and she's been credited as helping the league's rise in popularity this season.
The Indiana Fevers rookie has already become one of the biggest sports stars in the US, but she won't be making her Olympics debut this summer.
The 22-year-old is seemingly using the snub as motivation to reach the next level though as Fevers coach Sides revealed how Clark responded to the news.
"I'm a little disappointed, of course - she's my player," Sides said.
"That's the hardest team in the world to make, right? That is a tough team.
"She's young. She's gonna have so many opportunities in the future.
"We talked [actually] on the bus. She got the call on the bus, and she texted me to let me know.
"I just tried to keep her spirits [up]. "The thing she said was: 'Coach, they woke a monster,' which I thought was awesome."
Clark's snub from Team USA's Olympic team comes a few days after she was in the spotlight following a brutal foul from Chennedy Carter.
The Chicago Sky player shoved Clark to the ground in an off-the-ball foul that was later upgraded to a flagrant-one.
The incident caused uproar online and 'Real Time' host Bill Maher has taken aim at Clark's team-mates for not stepping in to back up the rookie.
“Women's basketball got on my radar because of Caitlin Clark," he said.
"The other girls in the league are delighted for her success. I'm joking, of course. They f***ing hate her."
Maher then spoke about the clip of Clark being bodychecked to the floor by Carter where he also criticised the former's team-mates for not stepping in.
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"If this was men - they defend each other on their same team," he added.
"I mean men will fight from two teams but when somebody checks you who's on your team, you defend that guy.
"I'm just saying men have their bad parts - we're toxic, we're dogs - but only women would do this.
"Women are catty, even the ones on her own team."
