On June 13, 2024, Facebook account America’s Last Line of Defense published an article positing that Team USA lost $60 million in endorsements from 11 different companies after “snubbing” Caitlin Clark in its selection for the women’s national basketball team:

Team USA Loses 60 Million in Endorsements After the Caitlin Clark Snub: “We Can’t Back That Decision” 

Eleven companies have dropped their sponsorship of USA Basketball in the past few days.

“They’ve disappointed a lot of people.”

(America’s Last Line of Defense)

In the comments, the page added:

It’s true, patriots. Companies are backing out left and right. First, it was Ultra-Right Beer, the company that sold like 40 six packs for $80 each and shipped some of them eight months later, and Cracker Barrel. Because they’re hoping to get some Boomers back after the bench incident of 2023. IYKYK.

There are probably more, but I’m currently too busy framing the ceiling in my breakfast nook, paid for wholly by potato farming, to focus on any others. Let’s go with Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A by default and just move on, m’kay? God Bless America.

The post amassed more 25,000 reactions, 9,000 comments and 4,000 shares. Many commenters shared their support for Clark under the post, with one writing that Clark “handled it with dignity & grace. … Sad she wasn’t invited but not for me to judge.”

However, this item was not a factual recounting of real-life events. ALLOD describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature, and the “About Us” section on its website is as follows:

Everything on this website is fiction. If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined. Any similarities between this site’s pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical.

This post was in response to the WNBA rookie sensation being omitted from the Team USA women’s basketball roster. An ESPN article said the selection committee made the decision due to inexperience:

The selection committee didn’t believe the talented Clark had enough high-level reps to be a member of the group headed to the Paris Games. The team includes seven players from the group that won gold in Tokyo — the seventh straight for the Americans.

We’ve previously fact-checked a claim that Clark was added to the Team USA roster after the team released Brittney Griner.

After the controversial decision to leave Caitlin Clark off the Team USA women’s basketball roster, the repercussions have been swift and costly. According to America’s Last Line of Defense, eleven different companies have pulled their endorsements from Team USA, resulting in a staggering loss of $60 million in potential revenue.

One of the first companies to withdraw their support was Ultra-Right Beer, known for their expensive six-packs and delayed shipments. This move was followed by Cracker Barrel, who are seemingly trying to win back fans after a previous incident involving Boomers on the bench in 2023.

With companies like Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A potentially joining the list of sponsors jumping ship, the financial impact on Team USA could be significant. This decision has clearly struck a nerve with both fans and corporate partners alike.

Despite the backlash, many supporters of Caitlin Clark have praised her for handling the situation with grace and dignity. It is clear that her omission from the roster has sparked a mix of emotions among basketball fans.

While some may see this as a simple sports-related controversy, it is important to remember that events like these can have far-reaching consequences. The financial hit taken by Team USA serves as a cautionary tale for organizations when making high-profile selection decisions.

In conclusion, the fallout from Caitlin Clark’s exclusion from the Team USA roster serves as a reminder of the power of public opinion and corporate partnerships in the world of sports.

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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)