NBC has recently released significant updates regarding the viewership of the Paris Olympics, revealing some startling disparities, especially concerning the women’s basketball games. This news adds more weight to the ongoing controversy surrounding Team USA and the widespread fan boycott.

NBC reported that the Paris Olympics have drawn over 41 million views on NBC, Peacock, and other key NBCUniversal platforms as of July 30th. The U.S. men’s basketball team alone garnered an impressive 10.9 million views this past Sunday, compared to the women’s basketball team, which only managed 3 million views. This stark contrast highlights the impact of the boycott, with many fans refusing to watch the women’s games due to Caitlin Clark’s exclusion from the team.

In comparison, other sports have seen significant viewership. The U.S. women’s gymnastics team drew 41.5 million views, while the U.S. women’s soccer team’s match against Germany averaged 4.2 million views on Peacock and USA Network, outperforming all soccer matches from the past two Summer Games. This demonstrates that the interest in the Olympics remains high, but the boycott specifically targets the women’s basketball games.

Historically, the women’s basketball games have seen much higher viewership. Twelve years ago, the Olympics attracted over 11 million views for the women’s basketball portion, indicating an 8 million viewer drop this year. This decline is a clear sign of the boycott’s effectiveness, reflecting fans’ dissatisfaction with Team USA and coach Cheryl Reeve’s decisions.

The Paris Olympics have been surrounded by various controversies, including issues related to transgender athletes and religious considerations. Additionally, the opening ceremony faced backlash and has reportedly been removed. Despite these issues, overall viewership for the Olympics has increased by 24% across all NBC platforms, proving that the event remains popular among fans.

The women’s basketball team has been actively preparing for their upcoming game against Serbia, sharing updates on social media. However, the boycott continues to impact their viewership, with many fans staying true to their pledge not to watch. Caitlin Clark, who was snubbed from the team, has taken the situation in stride, indicating she may participate in future Olympics.

In the midst of the increased viewership and advertising revenue for the Olympics, the WNBA missed a significant opportunity to capitalize on this momentum. The boycott has undeniably affected the women’s basketball viewership, but fans remain engaged with other Olympic events.

As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the women’s basketball team will fare in future games and whether they can regain the trust and viewership of their fans. For now, the boycott stands as a testament to the power of fan influence in the world of sports.