Caitlin Clark issued a defiant six-word reaction to Christie Sides after being snubbed by the US Olympic team in the summer.

Despite her superstar status, Clark was overlooked for a place in the 12-player squad for the Paris Games. The decision was vindicated as the US won gold after defeating hosts France in the final.

The Indiana Fever ace, 22, was naturally disappointed to miss out. But instead of getting down, she used her omission as motivation, her now former coach at Indiana revealed.

Sides was one of the first people Clark contacted after learning she had missed out. Sides issued some words of encouragement and revealed, per Fastbreak: “We talked actually on the bus. She got the call on the bus and she text me to let me know. I just tried to keep her spirits [up].”

One particular message delighted Sides, who said: “The thing she said was, ‘Hey coach, they woke a monster’, which I thought was awesome.”

On Clark’s omission from the Olympic team, Sides added: “Yeah, a little disappointed, of course. She’s my player. That’s the hardest team in the world to make. That’s a tough team. She’s young, she’s gonna have so many opportunities in the future.”

Clark took the rejection in her stride though, sportingly declaring: “I’m excited for the girls that are on the team. I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could’ve gone either way – me being on the team, me not being on the team.

“So I’m excited for them. I’m gonna be rooting for them to win gold. I was a kid who grew up watching the Olympics, so, yeah, it’ll be fun watching them.”

Clark is set for a new coach after Sides was fired despite leading Indiana to their first playoff appearance since 2016. The Fever made the playoffs as the sixth seed, only to be swept in the first round by the Connecticut Sun, with Sides being accused of failing to get the most out of their star player.

Kelly Krauskopf, Fever president of basketball operations, said: “We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integral transition period over the last two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth.

“While decisions like these are never easy, it is also imperative that we remain bold and assertive in the pursuit of our goals, which includes maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship back to Indiana. Coach Sides was an incredible representative of the Fever and our community, and we wish her nothing but success in the future.”