There’s One Biggest Loser In Team USA’s Decision – It’s Not Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark won’t be competing for a gold medal in the Olympics this summer. The No. 1 pick has been left off the roster despite her unique skillset and undeniable appeal to sports fans around the country.

Clark didn’t seem too bothered by USA Basketball’s decision to keep her off the roster. In fact, she congratulated those who’ll be making the trip to Paris in July.

While the women’s national team will be just fine without Clark, there’s one huge loser in all of this.

As per usual, NBC will broadcast the Paris Olympics. Certain events should generate strong ratings, but women’s basketball will take a hit since Clark won’t be on the roster.

The WNBA reported this Tuesday that its games are averaging 1.32 million viewers. That’s almost triple the amount from last season. This past Friday, over 20,000 fans attended a matchup between the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics in large part because of Clark.

We’re not the only ones who believe Clark would’ve given NBC’s ratings a nice boost. Some of the most popular names in the sports media industry agree.

“I would make the argument, like a Tiger Woods or a Conor McGregor in their prime, she’ll make other people money beyond herself. Rising tide lifts all boats. Instead of getting seven million viewers, you’ll get 14-18 with Caitlin Clark—maybe more,” Fox Sports radio host Colin Cowherd argued, via Awful Announcing. “The sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth best player on the women’s Olympic team would make six or seven figures in endorsements.

“The women’s basketball team does not lose the Olympics. I think they’ve won seven straight gold. You probably didn’t know that because you didn’t watch…Life, whether it’s a relationship, business, or sports, life gives you so few big waves. When they do, grab your surfboard. Bryce Harper. Boxing’s never had another Muhammad Ali. Tiger Woods. Conor McGregor. (deep sigh) Caitlin Clark.”

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made a similar argument on “First Take” this week.

“You know good and well with or without Caitlin Clark, they’re gonna probably win the gold again,” Smith said, via Mediaite. “That’s not what this conversation is about. This is about, what I will personally label, the idiocy of Team USA women’s basketball! How dare you make this decision! It’s stupid!”

You don’t have to be a fan of Clark’s game to accept that she’s lifting women’s basketball to new heights.

Unfortunately, the 2024 Olympics won’t be along for the ride.