Olympics having trouble selling tickets for Caitlin Clark-less USA-Germany game (PO)

The Caitlin Clark-less USA women’s basketball team is having trouble drawing the crowds you’d expect during the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that tickets for the USA vs. Germany game set for Aug. 4 are being sold in a “special offer” for just 24 Euros per ticket with no assigned seating.

This means anyone can grab front-row seats for the game beginning at 11:15 a.m. ET.

“Paris 2024 is having trouble selling tickets to the US-Germany women’s basketball game on Aug. 4. ‘Special offer’ tickets now available: only 24 Euros each and the seats can be anywhere in the venue. Maybe front row! Would’ve been a sellout with Caitlin Clark on the team,” Times reporter Juliet Macur wrote on X.

Fans were also quick to point out in the post’s comments that the game is not in Paris but just outside in nearby Lille, France, roughly a two-hour drive, perhaps affecting the lack of interest in purchasing tickets.

Still, it’s hard to imagine that this game would have such a tough time drawing crowds if Clark weren’t snubbed from the team.

Clark has consistently drawn massive crowds as a phenomenon in women’s basketball, selling out arenas in the U.S. and even forcing the WNBA to move some games to bigger venues.

The women’s basketball team decided not to select Clark for the roster, going with 12 other players as the Indiana Fever rookie now watches from afar.

Clark says she has paid close attention, she told reporters during Fever media availability this week.

Brittney Griner of United States gestures next to Chelsea Gray during an Olympics game against Japan on July 29, 2024.REUTERS
“I watched USA women yesterday. That was fun,” Clark said.

“I watched USA men. I try to watch as much as I can,” she said. “Obviously, the perfect time is during practice with the time change in Paris, so maybe Christie [Sides] should cancel practice so I can watch more of the Olympics.”

Clark added that she is not bummed to be left off the roster, instead saying that she is more motivated than ever.

“I think the break’s definitely been good. I mean, it’s certainly cool. It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you’re only going to ever get in four years. So, I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily bummed,” Clark said. “I think it gives you something to work for, for sure, and something to dream of.”