Caitlin Clark's Olympic Snub: A Missed Opportunity, Critics Argue

Dan Dakich and other experts criticize the decision to leave star guard Caitlin Clark off the U.S. Olympic women's basketball roster, arguing that it's a missed opportunity to boost the sport's popularity.

The decision to leave Caitlin Clark off the U.S. Olympic women's basketball roster has sparked widespread criticism from experts, who argue that it's a missed opportunity to grow the sport's audience.

Dan Dakich, host of OutKick's "Don't @ Me," said the move is "a really dumb missed opportunity" that could have brought more attention to women's basketball.

"There's no basketball player that's a bigger draw right now in the world than Caitlin Clark," Dakich said. "Let's be honest, most people didn't even know they had women's basketball in the Summer Olympics. Now you have a chance to do this, and you don't take it..."

Clark, a rookie for the Indiana Fever, has been credited with boosting the WNBA's viewership, including a record-breaking crowd of 20,333 for her team's game against the Washington Mystics on Friday.

"All I've heard for years is, ‘We've got to grow the game, pay attention to us, love on us,'" Dakich said. "And now you have a real opportunity…"

Former U.S. men's soccer star Alexi Lalas echoed Dakich's criticism, saying, "I don’t know enough about USA women’s Olympic basketball to know if Caitlin Clark’s omission is a snub. I do know that, right now, she would be the only reason I would remotely care about USA women’s Olympic basketball."

OutKick contributor and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines wrote on Twitter: "Caitlin Clark should be on the Women's US Olympic Basketball team. That's it. That's the tweet."

Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, called the decision "the dumbest s--- I've ever heard."

USA Basketball has not yet formally confirmed the roster for this year's Olympic team, but multiple reports indicate that Clark will be left off the list.

Some reports speculate that the decision is due to Clark's rookie status, while others question the logic behind such a move given her popularity and the positive impact she could have on the sport's growth.

The criticism highlights the ongoing struggle for women's sports to gain equal attention and support as men's sports. By leaving Clark off the Olympic team, critics argue, USA Basketball is missing an opportunity to showcase the talent and excitement of women's basketball and inspire a new generation of fans.