Breaking: Caitlin Clark “Lost opportunity”, ”it’s not a do or die affair”
Caitlin Clark, the first overall pick in the WNBA draft and an all-star rookie for the Indiana Fever, left a glittering legacy behind her collegiate career this past spring. Clark solidified her status as one of the all-time greats in NCAA history while she was a member of the University of Iowa’s Division I women’s basketball team. She recorded the most points, the highest scoring average, the most national scoring titles, the most 3-pointers in a season and career, among other records.
The exceptional point guard’s absence from the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team selection for 2024 sparked a flurry of significant and quick reactions due to her habitually outstanding performances.
Fans, players, and commentators were not the only ones who expressed shock and disapproval at the decision, however, aThe NCAA March Madness women’s basketball tournament final between the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and Iowa Hawkeyes averaged about 18.7 million viewers, peaking at a combined 24 million in the final 15 minutes. This marked the first time in history that the women’s title game beat out the men’s championship game for viewership. According to NPR, the WNBA saw more than 400,000 fans pack stadiums in May, with more than half the games being sellouts, making it the highest-attended month for the league in more than 20 years.s many contended that Clark’s absence would have a knock-on effect on women’s basketball in general, figuratively (and possibly literally) undoing gains that her dominant presence made for the WNBA.
Dynamo rookies like Chicago Sky’s Clark and Angel Reese are largely responsible for this spike in attention and income, which NPR claimed to be the highest since the WNBA’s founding in the late 1990s.
Many social media users have openly expressed their frustration online. A user on Twitter wrote, “The only good thing that may come out of the Team USA Olympics committee excluding Caitlin Clark from Team USA is fans may never again have to listen to whiny WNBA veterans complain about their low salaries and lack of visibility for the league because they collectively blew a golden opportunity by not including Clark on Team USA for the Summer Olympics.”
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy tweeted, “Rant incoming,” along with a video clip expressing his opinions. “Leaving Caitlin Clark off the women’s Olympic team is the dumbest s**t I’ve ever heard.”
“You wanna grow the game, put arguably your most popular player rn on the Olympic stage,” countered another X/Twitter user. As in, duh.”
ESPN Sports anchor Linda Cohn, who is located in Los Angeles, replied to a tweet mentioning that the tickets for a recent game between The Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics sold out in thirty minutes. The game was moved from the Mystics’ usual arena, which holds 4,200 seats, to Capitol One Arena, which has 20,3565 seats.
“Yet Caitlin Clark is not selected to the Team USA Women’s Basketball team heading to Paris for the Olympics?!?!” Composed by Cohn. “She just packs arenas, advances the game, and breaks rookie records. What an ill-advised choice. Missed chance.”
Some social media users went so far as to say that one of the few reasons they would watch the Olympics this summer is because Clark will be there.
“I don’t know enough about USA women’s Olympic basketball to know if Caitlin Clark’s omission is a snub,” a user on X/Twitter remarked. “I do know that, right now, she would be the only reason I would remotely care about USA women’s Olympic basketball.”
Despite criticism from the general public over the choice, Clark was open about her support for the 2024 Paris team. She said at a recent Indiana Fever practice that she intends to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, with the all-star team. Clark told the media, “I think it just gives you something to work for,” according to ABC. It’s a dream. I hope to be able to visit there someday. It’s simply a bit additional motivation, in my opinion. You recall that. Hopefully, I’ll be able to attend in four years.”
“I’m excited for the girls that are on the team,” she said. “I am aware that this is the world’s most competitive team, and I also understand that my fate may have depended on whether I made the team or not. I can’t wait to see them. Will be cheering them on to the gold. When I was younger, I used to watch the Olympics. I’ll like seeing those.
While the majority of people strongly believe that Clark should have competed in Paris this summer, others have made the case that the recently promoted professional must first earn her right before entering the Olympic arena.
Clark’s snub, according to 9News sports reporter Arielle Orsuto on X/Twitter, was causing “fake outrage from people who just started watching women’s basketball this year.”
“The (historically undefeated) US Women’s Olympic basketball team will be just fine without Caitlin Clark, and she will be just fine waiting another 4 years for her turn,” she said.
Another X/Twitter user questioned, “Why are we debating Caitlin Clark being on the Olympic team!?!” “She just turned pro and has played twelve games.” Give it a break, please.”
