WNBA Ignores Reese & Cardoso’s Electrifying Debut – Is There a Hidden Agenda? Can’t They See What We See?
đ WNBA Ignores Reese & Cardoso’s Electrifying Debut – Is There a Hidden Agenda? Can’t They See What We See?
In her debut for the Chicago Sky, former LSU star Angel Reese delivered an outstanding performance that many believe went underappreciated by the WNBA, overshadowed by a push for another player. Amidst fan discontent for the lack of highlight reels featuring Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the conversation turns to the league’s apparent biases and the fans’ clamor for a broader showcase of talent. Let’s dive into the unfolding drama and the call for change…
LSUâs Angel Reese, left, poses for a photo
with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft on Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
(AP)â The WNBA debuts of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso were widely watched on a social media livestream from a fan who stepped in when the leagueâs app couldnât broadcast the game.
Reese and Cardoso played in their first preseason game for the Chicago Sky on Friday night in a 92-81 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
The WNBAâs app had incorrectly listed the game as available to watch, leading to confusion from fans before the league clarified that only Caitlin Clarkâs debut with the Indiana Fever was being broadcast.
Thatâs when @heyheyitsalli stepped in on X.
âWould yâall want me to try and stream the game on here??â the X user asked, âno promises on the quality but i can try.â
Viewership numbers on the livestream varied, but on Saturday the video showed about 434,000 total views. The X user previously posted a screenshot showing that the stream peaked at 173,381 live viewers.
âYâall these are some of THE WILDEST numbers WOW,â the user tweeted.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was asked about the stream after the game. She said @heyheyitsalli deserves âthree bucksâ per viewer.
âAnybody that watched it should send three bucks to the person, I donât even know who it is,â Reeve said. âI think that what I would say is that the growth is happening so fast. Itâs so accelerated. And Iâve been saying this in our own organization â that business as usual isnât going to work anymore.
âYouâre gonna get left behind and this is an example.â
Reeve said she understands that Clarkâs game would be broadcast, and is âall for that.â
âPeople want to see that, but they also want to see, you know, itâs not just about Caitlin,â Reeve said. âThis isnât Caitlinâs fault in any way. Itâs more, you know, the recognition that thereâs general excitement about the WNBA in ways that we havenât seen before. And so we have to capitalize to really ensure that this is a movement.â
Reese finished the game with 13 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes. Cardoso had six points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said she was pleased with the rookiesâ debuts.
âThis is a learning process for all of us. ⌠And weâre going through that process in the right way,â she said. âWe got our leaders leading them, pulling them along. Keeping them confident. Thatâs what matters. So weâre in a great place and theyâre in a hell of a great place.â