A sad case for the WNBA

The debut of the tournament’s most popular player, Angel Reese, was marred by technical mishaps as the league failed to live stream the event. Instead, they opted to focus their resources solely on promoting the Indiana Fever.

However, a stroke of unplanned genius emerged when a lone fan took matters into her own hands, streaming the game from her phone and unexpectedly attracting over 2 million viewers. Even the Dawn Staley tuned into the makeshift broadcast, highlighting the missed opportunity by the WNBA to capitalize on the momentous occasion.

Critics may contest Angel’s status as the league’s foremost star, but the numbers don’t lie—her social media following eclipses that of the entire tournament, underscoring her undeniable influence and popularity. The WNBA’s oversight in spotlighting a singular team over the league’s diverse array of talent became glaringly apparent as two formidable players, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, boasting three championship rings between them, had their spotlight dimmed.

This blunder begs the question: why does the WNBA continue to grapple with visibility and relevance? Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, attendance figures painted a contrasting picture of the league’s potential. The matchup between Dallas and the Fever drew in 6200 fans, while the clash between the Lynx and the powerhouse duo of Reese and Cardoso attracted over 7000 spectators—a testament to the captivating allure of top-tier competition that the league must learn to leverage effectively.