Caitlin Clark’s absence echoes in empty seats at Team USA’s Olympic opener
The sunlit courts of Paris bore witness to the opening salvo of the USA women’s national basketball team as they obliterated Japan with a 102-76 victory. The scoreboard wasn’t the only thing lighting up; the win put Team USA neck-and-neck with Germany atop Group C. But there was a glaring absence that even the triumphant score couldn’t overshadow.
Despite the resounding win, the stands told a different story. Only 13,040 fans trickled in to watch the American juggernaut, the lowest attendance among the six opening games. The chatter on the streets and the digital buzz pointed fingers in one direction: the conspicuous absence of Indiana Fever’s rookie sensation, Caitlin Clark.
It’s not just the numbers that reveal the tale. Consider the attendance figures:
- Spain vs. China – 27,021
- Nigeria vs. Australia – 24,023
- Germany vs. Belgium – 20,211
- France vs. Canada – 20,211
- Serbia vs. Puerto Rico – 15,324
And then, there’s Team USA, attracting just a little over half of Spain-China’s crowd with only 13,040 spectators.
Social media blames Clark’s snub for low attendance
Clark’s omission from the roster became the rallying cry for disgruntled fans who flooded social media with their grievances. One impassioned tweet summed it up: “If Caitlin is playing: more people go. If Caitlin isn’t playing: less people go. It’s simple.” Another chimed in, accusing the powers that be of deliberately sidelining a phenom: “They’d do anything to keep CC out. Man, she would absolutely TAKEOVER stadiums.“