“The Caitlin Clark Effect”.
For the first time in history, the whole world is talking about women’s basketball. why? That’s because Caitlin Clark has become the most prolific scorer, male or female, in college basketball history, while also taking viewership and engagement to new levels. And as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Indiana Fever, she brought the following players to the WNBA:
However, she was left off the 2024 U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team. And some people are not happy.
Colin Cowherd voiced his disapproval of the decision on FS1’s “The Herd” on Monday.
“Kaitlyn Clark, who is not one of the top 12 or 15 players in the WNBA, was not made on the Olympic team,” Cowhered said. “But Christian Laettner isn’t one of the top 100 players in the NBA and makes an Olympic team. Jaylen Brown is not on this (upcoming men’s) Olympic team and he’s one of the top 15 players.
So what happens when talent doesn’t seem to be the only thing that guarantees a player a spot on the Olympic team? According to Cowherd, it’s all about “politics.”
“Olympic basketball teams, both men’s and women’s, have always been subjective and very political. Isaiah Thomas didn’t make it. Why? Michael Jordan didn’t like him,” Cowherd said. “To me it feels like a wasted opportunity.”
Cowherd argued that Clark would not only gain viewership for the women’s Olympic team, but also make money through the endorsements of her teammates.
“The WNBA Finals had 700,000 viewers. The draft with Caitlin Clark had three times that number of viewers. I would argue that like Tiger Woods or Connor McGregor in their prime, she will make other people more money than she did herself. no see.” Coward said. “The women’s Olympic team doesn’t lose in the Olympics. I think the women’s Olympic team has won seven gold medals in a row and you wouldn’t know that because you didn’t watch. And (with Clark) you probably didn’t either.”
Cowherd compares Clark’s success to that of Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods, explaining that Caitlin Clark was the foundation that put women’s basketball on the map.
“Life rarely gives you big waves. When they come, grab your surfboard,” he said.
But according to Cowherd, women’s basketball missed this opportunity: an opportunity to continue the upward trend in women’s basketball viewership and engagement.
“She’s going to triple the TV ratings. The NBA would die to have a homegrown star as popular as Caitlin Clark. Oh wait, that’s right, Anthony Edwards. They put him on the team. Anthony Edwards is as good as Jaylen Brown No, but they found a place for him on the team,” Cowherd said.
Adding Caitlin Clark to the team isn’t just about Clark. Cowherd explained that her inclusion will benefit everyone on her team.
“Women’s basketball feels like it’s either suffering from malice, suffering from historically low self-esteem, or wanting to prove they know more than you do. Here’s what I know: Kaitlyn Clark is like every other woman on an Olympic team. It will make them money, she will give them more opportunities, and they will potentially become more famous.
There was a clear and easy answer as to whether Clark should be on the team or not. Women’s basketball answered incorrectly.
“Some things are like business 101,” Cowherd said. “This is a layup, and you messed it up.”
Caitlin Clark refuses to compete in Olympics
Later in the episode, Cowherd spoke with Philadelphia 76 coach Nick Nurse, who expressed agreement with Cowherd but also offered a new perspective on the situation.
“It’s both good and bad,” the nurse said. “I almost can’t believe it, because I agree that if she’s on the team, the ratings, everything goes on and on. But I’m almost happy for her too. I think the amount of pressure she’s under is huge. ; Taking that team to two national championships has never happened. At least she doesn’t have to go through another ton of scrutiny and pressure.”
Caitlin Clark’s Nick Nurse excluded from Team USA
Nurses weren’t the only ones surprised by Clark’s exclusion from the list. On a past episode of FS1’s “Speak,” Joy Taylor expressed how she felt her decision was incredibly unexpected. But she explained that there are two factors that go into deciding who gets on her team.
“Who is the best person to represent the United States as a U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team? That’s a separate conversation from what’s best for growing the sport,” Taylor said. “Sports is on the rise because of Caitlin Clark. She’s drawing attention, bringing sponsors, putting people on the edge of their seats, and leading all the conversations.”
Taylor framed the entire issue as a business decision.
“From a marketing perspective, a business perspective, the numbers are indisputable (that Clark is generating),” Taylor said. “The conflict for me is when should we talk about sports, as well as the novelty, drama, eye candy, viewership, religion, politics and race? From a business perspective, I agree that it wasn’t the right decision.”
Is it rude to leave Caitlin Clark off the Olympic roster?
Paul Pierce agreed with Taylor, explaining on FS1’s “Undisputed” that having Clark on the team was a business decision and women’s basketball blew it.
“You claim you want the game of women’s basketball to grow, yet you cut the most popular girl in women’s basketball from the team,” Pierce said. “Sometimes you have to say, ‘Hey, this is bigger than a game.’ Women’s basketball is at an all-time high because of Kaitlyn Clark. It’s outrageous that they dropped the ball in this game.”
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