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Caitlin Clark outshines Team USA's Olympic gold medal game record in viewership
More often than not, Caitlin Clark's name was mentioned in the same breath as the USA Basketball women's team during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team was on a mission in Paris, keen to win a record-breaking eighth consecutive gold medal, which they did so, but regularly linked with Clark's and her potential effect on that team.
Despite the increase in viewership for the WNBA, the women's team didn't draw much attention during the Olympics compared to previous editions of the games. Moreover, Clark alone played in three college games with more viewership than this year's Olympic basketball gold medal game.
The 2024 Paris Olympics basketball gold medal game averaged 7.8 million viewers and peaked at 10.9 million.
Clark played three games with the Iowa Hawkeyes that broke the 12-million mark. The national championship game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and South Carolina Gamecocks drew 18.9 million viewers. The game against the UConn Huskies drew 14.4 million viewers, while the final college match between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese drew 12.3 million.
Simply put, Clark's most-watched game in college surpassed the women's gold medal match by eight million viewers. Further, her next two most-watched games surpassed the gold medal game by around five and two million viewers.
Caitlin Clark's absence from Team USA was allegedly linked to her popularity
Once the 12-player roster for the 2024 USA Basketball women's team was announced, many wondered why Caitlin Clark was not on the list. There were several explanations for this decision, but one of the first included two veterans saying that Clark's popularity wouldn't match the limited time she'd have to play.
Clark has been a major sensation in the WNBA and seeing her travel to France could've given Team USA the deserved attention. On the flip side, with players like Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu and Kelsey Plum on the roster, it would've been hard to find space for Clark.
Right before the team's debut in the Olympics, Dawn Staley, a member of the selection committee, said that Clark's initial display in the WNBA didn't help her case. Staley added that her turnaround was notable, but that came after the final team was selected.
Clark doesn't hold any grudges against anybody and now that the WNBA is about to restart, she'll have the chance to prove herself again.
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