More often than not, Caitlin Clark’s name was mentioned in the same breath as the US women’s basketball team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but it was regularly linked to Clark and her potential impact in this team Despite the increased spectacle of the WNBA, the women’s team did not gain much attention during the Olympics compared to previous editions of the games.
Also, Clark has only played in three college games with bigger crowds than this year’s Olympic basketball gold medal game. The basketball gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics averaged 7.8 million viewers and peaked at 10.9 million. Clark played three games with the Iowa Hawkeyes that topped 12 million viewers.
The national championship game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks drew 18.9 million viewers. The game against the UConn Huskies drew 14.4 million viewers, while the last college game between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese drew 12.3 million viewers.
Simply put, Clark’s most-watched college game surpassed the women’s gold medal game with eight million viewers. Additionally, their next two most-watched games surpassed the gold medal game by approximately five and two million viewers. Caitlin Clark’s absence from the American team may have had something to do with her popularity
After the 12-player roster for the 2024 USA women’s basketball team was announced, many wondered why Caitlin Clark wasn’t on the roster. Several explanations were offered for the decision, but one of the first was that two veterans said that Clark’s popularity did not match the limited playing time she would have to play.
Clark was a sensation in the WNBA and seeing her go to France might have given Team USA the attention it deserved. On the other hand, as Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu and Kelsey Plum on the list, it would be difficult to find a place for Clark. Shortly before the team’s Olympic debut, selection committee member Dawn Staley said Clark’s first WNBA performance didn’t help her cause. Staley added that his change in direction was obvious, but it happened after the final team was chosen. Clark has no hard feelings toward anyone, and now that the WNBA is ready to resume, she’ll have a chance to try again.
