Far fewer sports fans are watching the USA’s Women’s Basketball Team this Olympics and it was all so foreseeable…and preventable.

Undoubtedly, sports serve as a reflection of the broader world, a microcosm of society’s intricacies and flaws. To grasp the “why” behind the USA Women’s Basketball team’s decision to exclude Caitlin Clark, we need only look at Vice President Kamala Harris’s meticulous strategic maneuvering of her vice presidential pick for the Democratic Party’s 2024 ticket.

Let’s face it, Kamala probably harbored aspirations of selecting a woman as her running mate, preferably a Black woman, for a myriad of reasons. However, she will opt for a White man instead, bowing to the harsh realities of political strategy. The demographics and political climate necessitate this choice, aiming to allay the fears of both men and White voters, who may not be ready for a ticket featuring two Black women, regardless of their qualifications.

Similarly, the women, particularly Black women, who meticulously crafted the USA Women’s Basketball team roster, found themselves unable—and undeniably unwilling—to select Caitlin Clark. They failed to set aside their emotional grievances and make the logical choice.

Let’s not kid ourselves. Caitlin Clark was the smart business decision, the promotional powerhouse the team desperately needed. The low spectator numbers starkly highlight this missed opportunity. Fans would have flocked to watch Clark dominate on the international stage, but the team chose to prioritize their spotlight, which, as it turns out, no one is watching.

Angel Reese would have been a big boost too, but alas, she’s a lowly rookie.

Why couldn’t they make the wise choice? Because when the heart speaks, the mind turns to peanuts . In this case, creamy, nutless peanut butter.

Black women are sick n’ tired of being sick n’ tired, I’m talking exhausted. They’ve been perpetually relegated to the sidelines by a biased society that consistently undervalues and marginalizes them. They yearn for recognition, accolades, and the respect they’ve rightfully earned. Yet, reality isn’t a G-rated Disney movie with happy endings. It’s more akin to a Quentin Tarantino gangster flick.

Sports wordsmith extraordinaire Stephen A. Smith elucidated this and implored the selection committee to make the smart move, but they couldn’t do it. The committee couldn’t bring themselves to admit that Caitlin Clark was the main draw, the magnet for fans. They overlooked the fact that the WNBA is on the verge of a monumental surge in popularity and revenue, which could finally pay its athletes what they deserve, rather than the pittance they’ve been receiving for the past quarter-century.