Stephen A. Smith responds to Dawn Staley on Caitlin Clark’s absence with an irrefutable argument

This attendance issue sparked criticism from NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, who questioned the selection committee’s decision not to include Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on the roster.

During his talk show, Smith pointed out that the game against Japan had the lowest attendance among the initial women’s basketball games, suggesting that the inclusion of popular players like Clark and Reese could have attracted more fans.

Smith gives his take

He emphasized that Caitlin Clark has been instrumental in boosting interest in women’s basketball, both during her college career with the Iowa Hawkeyes and now in the WNBA.

Smith argued that these players are not just skilled athletes but also draw significant viewership, which could have helped fill the arena. He presented data showing the substantial audiences that Clark attracts, reinforcing his point that star players play a crucial role in bringing fans to the games.

“Team USA’s win over Japan only drew 13,040 fans which was the lowest attended game among the opening six matchups in group play,” he said.

“The Serbia v. Puerto Rico game was the 2nd worst-attended game with 15,324 fans in attendance.