When Caitlin Clark wasn’t selected for the Team USA Olympics squad in June, celebrated journalist Stephen A. Smith came forward to express that Clark deserved a place. As per him, even if Clark wasn’t the best player in the league, she would have brought a lot of popularity. And now, when Clark is firing on all fours in the league by breaking the WNBA rookie assists record and etching her name in the franchise’s books with her three-pointer record, Smith has once again shared his take on Clark.

Smith was present on ESPN’s First Take on Monday when he shared how much he valued Clark and why she was important to the Team USA in the Paris Olympics. “I believed in her from Day 1. I knew she would only get better and better. Caitlin Clark is real. She’s coming and I still contend, she should have been on Team USA, Shannon. You saw the attendance for Team USA compared to everybody else. If she was on that team that wouldn’t have been a problem. I stand by my, I stand by my position from day one. She’s real,” Smith opined.

On the other hand, Sharpe agreed with what Smith had to say and he too had nothing but praise for her. However, he also had a special request for the rookie. “Hey, do me a favor CC. Say your favorite jersey with your autograph on it and I will wear it. Do that for me,” Shannon Sharpe said, via First Take.

Clark had 223 assists before the game against the Seattle Storm and she scored 9 assists to surpass Ticha Penicheiro’s record for most assists by a rookie in the WNBA (225). Not only that, but Clark also went ahead of Tamika Catchings’ 2002 record of the most three-pointers by an Indiana Fever rookie. Clark hit 3 of the 10 three-pointers she attempted taking her tally of threes to 78.

Hence, it was rightly Clark’s day, and coupled with her 23 points, the Fever won their second consecutive game after the Olympics break. Overall, Clark averages a whopping 17.8 points with 5.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. Clark’s reemergence in the WNBA has once again attracted eyes and won her applause from Smith and Sharpe. Meanwhile, Smith had also blamed Team USA for not attracting enough crowd at the Paris Olympics.

Stephen A. Smith opens up on Team USA’s mistake

Smith had also expressed his disappointment after Clark’s Olympic snub and his argument sent the point across when Smith mentioned that four of Team USA’s games could only draw “over 20,000 — and the one that didn’t still drew 2,000 more than you.” Smith had always been a proponent that Clark would have brought a lot of eyes to the game which would have been useful to Team USA on the international stage.

Talking about the business aspect of the game, Smith observed that rookies like Clark and Reese deserved to be on the team since “marketing matters in everything. Promotion matters in everything.” And as per Smith, their absence was responsible for “Team USA draw(ing) the lowest attendance.” 

Now that Clark is showing her power, it wouldn’t take long for her to make her national debut. As for Sharpe, he can have his wishes fulfilled once Clark signs a jersey for him. Meanwhile, Smith’s advice needs to be paid heed by the national selectors.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.