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.

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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:

U.S. women's Olympic basketball beats Japan in opening Olympic game : NPR
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.