Team USA missed 'golden opportunity' with Caitlin Clark snub, says former Olympic broadcaster

Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya argues Team USA missed a 'golden opportunity' by passing on Caitlin Clark considering her popularity and ability to bring new viewers to women's sports. 

WNBA star Caitlin Clark was snubbed from the Team USA Olympic basketball roster for the summer 2024 games in Paris. While Clark took the decision as motivation, one critic argued Team USA missed a "golden opportunity."

"They whiffed here," Michele Tafoya told "Fox & Friends" Monday. 

"Every woman on that team is deserving. And there are also other women out there who didn't get picked who are deserving, and I think Caitlin Clark is one of them." 

FEVER COACH REVEALS CAITLIN CLARK'S INITIAL REACTION AFTER OLYMPICS SNUB

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever celebrates during the game against the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena on June 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

Tafoya, a longtime NFL sideline reporter and former Olympic broadcaster, argued Clark’s "undeniable" popularity paired with her talent should have earned her a spot on the roster. 

"The Michele Tafoya Podcast" host said basketball is not only a game, but also a business. 

"People are discovering women's basketball for the first time – for many, many people because of Caitlin Clark. She would have been a boon for this Olympic team," Tafoya told co-host Brian Kilmeade.

"This would have meant so much for the ratings of the women's Olympic basketball stuff. All of it."

In a Sunday press conference, Clark said she’s excited for Team USA and is looking forward to cheering them on to win gold.

"Honestly, no disappointment," she told press. "I think it just gives you something, something to work for. That’s a dream. Hopefully, one day I can be there,