Whether we like to admit it or not, Kaitlyn Clark has successfully established herself as the most popular female basketball player in the United States. But the standout WNBA rookie sensation has been left off the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, a controversial decision that’s on everyone’s mind.
According to DailyMirror.co.uk, the WNBA’s Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever game, highlighted by Chennedi Carter’s sneaky hit on Clarke, averaged 1.53 million viewers, a 346% increase in viewership compared to the professional league’s 2023 regular season average on ESPN. Mail Sport also reported statistics reported in an NBA press release, confirming that the game, Clarke’s first matchup against longtime college rival Angel Reese, reached 2.19 million viewers on ESPN. Saturday’s Fever vs. Sky game was reportedly the fourth-highest-viewed WNBA game in the past 22 years, according to statistics from SportsMediaWatch.com.
Certainly, the phenomenal increase in attendance was due to Clark’s presence as well as the typical heat of a rivalry between rookie stars, but Fever #22’s fame reached new heights with Clark and her team’s appearances in each of these top four games: their May 12 debut on ESPN2 (Fever vs. Sun – 2.12 million), Fever vs. Liberty on May 18 on ABC (1.71 million), and Fever vs. Connecticut on May 20 on ESPN (1.56 million).
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Despite the continued rise in WNBA ratings due to Clark’s inclusion (and not to take away from the contributions of other current players), the U.S. Basketball team not only ignored Clark, they missed a golden opportunity to gain attention and valuable ratings during the Olympic season. Ironically, the same attention that has led to Clark’s popularity likely led to her being excluded from the upcoming Paris Games. Here’s why:
Why Caitlin Clark was (reportedly) ignored by the United States Basketball Association
In a recent USA Today Sports report, two veteran US basketball players, who remained anonymous during the speech, suggested that the emotional baggage surrounding Clark played a large role in the decision, arguing that Clark was overlooked by the US national team due to the depth of the roster and the reaction that would have followed had Clark remained on the team and been given limited playing time.
It’s hard not to imagine the interest and coverage that would have been generated among media outlets around the world had Clark competed in the Olympics. Moreover, the timing of the Olympic roster announcement couldn’t have been worse, as the 22-year-old hit a WNBA rookie record-tying seven three-pointers and scored 30 points against the Washington Mystics, drawing the largest WNBA crowd in 17 years, 20,333 fans, several hundred of whom wore No. 22 jerseys in honor of Clark’s popularity in the stands.
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U.S. national team coach criticized for comments about Caitlin Clark
To make matters worse, just as news spread across the Internet that the U.S. team had failed to make the most of Clark’s popularity as an undoubted buzz magnet, an “eight-word” message from the team coach about the Fever’s number 22 also drew attention.
Cheryl Reeve, coach of the U.S. national team and head coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, reportedly noted that she has no significant common ground with Clark. USA Today Sports reporter Nancy Armour wrote on X/Twitter, “When I asked Cheryl Reeve about Clark at the USOPC summit, she said, ‘I’ve never played against Clark,'” or even at a USA Basketball camp. Asking a coach to include someone they have no ties to on their team at the most important tournament is a tall order. A very tall order.”
But that wasn’t the only thing Reeve said about the former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024. Reeve previously came under fire for pushing back against the attention on Clarke and promoting the social media hashtag “#theWismorethanoneplayer” to redirect attention to other players around the league.
In May, she posted on her X Feed, “There’s a game tonight – @minnesotalynx vs @chicagosky at 7pm CST. Fans won’t be able to attend the game, but #Lynx fans can follow the play-by-play on the Lynx app. Or come along to the game if you’re in the area…Let’s get the season started off right ✅ #12teams #theWismorethanoneplayer.” Basketball fans have not gone unnoticed by her words, and they have once again shifted focus to her previous statements, insinuating that there may be a political play at play here.
When the U.S. team pledges allegiance to the veterans’ cause, it’s usually to shake off the public eye and focus on basketball. But ironically, amid a flurry of harsh criticism and complaints about the 12-man Olympic roster that didn’t include Clark, the referees managed to achieve the exact opposite.
“I’m not disappointed” by the neglect, Clark said, as reported by The Athletic. “I think it just gives me something to work towards. That’s the dream. Hopefully I can be there one day. I think it just gives me a little bit more motivation. Just keep that in mind.”
Caitlin Clark’s loyal fans are already rooting for her to be selected as a key member of the athlete pool for the 2028 Olympic Games, when Los Angeles will host the international summer multi-sport event.
