Betting Impact Of Caitlin Clark's Team USA Snub

Team USA Leaves Clark Off Roster

It was reported on Saturday that Caitlin Clark will not be heading to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics with Team USA’s women’s basketball team. And it set off a firestorm of reactions from those who saw this as an egregious move. 

This decision comes on the heels of a few instances involving Clark, the Chennedy Carter shove to the ground and Angel Reese saying fans are not watching the WNBA because of only Caitlin Clark but because of her as well being two of them, which only adds flames to the fire of outrage over the treatment of Clark so for during her WNBA career.

And I think the way she’s been treated is ridiculous and embarrassing.

Christine Brennan reported the Team USA decision was based on "concern over how Clark's millions of fans would react to what would likely be limited playing time on a stacked roster.” But I think it all stems from jealousy from WNBA veterans who resent Clark for the attention and money she is immediately, and I’d say rightfully, she is earning since joining the WNBA.

New Potential Betting Opportunities

But the good news is this gives us reason to bet on her. Because on Sunday, Fever head coach Christie Sides told reporters Clark told her, "Hey coach, they woke a monster." 

So taking a look at her regular season MVP odds, those sit at +8000 at BetMGM and she is the massive favorite to win Rookie of the Year at -900. While there is no value in her ROY odds and I honestly wonder if the league will give her the MVP even if she’s earned it, I absolutely believe she’s the MVP of the WNBA. The impact she has had on the league and women’s basketball on multiple levels, college and professional basketball, is undeniable. She has brought an extraordinary amount of new fans and viewers and her importance to the sport absolutely makes her the most valuable player. So if you think she could win MVP, I would take those odds now because they could get shorter and shorter. 

Short-Term Betting Is More Logical

When betting on Clark, I would look more at her day-to-day Fever props. Because, as Sides said, that monster is very likely going to be awake. All of the jealously, petty comments and body slams to the ground are only going to inspire Clark even more to succeed.

Clark and the Fever (3-9) will take on the Connecticut Sun on Monday, the Atlanta Dream on Thursday and the Chicago Sky on Sunday.