There is no problem even if it is not broadcast.
Enterprising fans stepped in to do what the WNBA couldn’t do for Angel Reese and Camila Cardoso’s league debuts. The WNBA app only aired Caitlin Clark’s debut with the Indiana Fever, despite claiming to broadcast the Minnesota Lynx vs. Chicago Sky game.
Enter an X user named Alli who volunteered to stream the game himself.
“Why not stream the game here??” she asked X. “There are no promises about quality, but you can try.”
Chicago Sky #5 Angel Reese boxes out during a WNBA preseason game against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center on May 3, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
X number of users flocked to the stream, which at one point on Saturday had nearly 434,000 views.
Ali may have done more to bring attention to the WNBA overnight than any WNBA executive has done in the previous 25 years.
One person who thinks Ali should be rewarded is Lynx coach Sheryl Reeve.
“If anyone sees this, please send $3 to that person. I don’t even know who that is,” Reeve said. “What I can say is that growth is happening very quickly. It’s very accelerated. And I’ve been saying this within our organization. Business as usual. doesn’t work anymore.
“You’re going to be left behind. This is an example of that.”
Reeve said he has no hard feelings about Clark’s league debut being broadcast.
Angel Reese poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Brandon Todd/NBAE via Getty Images)
“People want to see that, but they also want to see that it’s not just about Caitlin,” Liesb said. “This is in no way Caitlin’s fault. It’s a recognition that there’s a general excitement building around the WNBA in a way we’ve never seen before. So we definitely need to leverage this as a movement.”
Reese’s Chicago Sky lost to the Lynx in the final, 92-81. However, the newcomer had a very solid debut. The former LSU star had 13 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes of play.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
