Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reflected on the new normal for the WNBA after Friday’s preseason game against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky made headlines. A lot of fans were unable to watch Reese’s Sky debut because it wasn’t carried on WNBA League Pass. Well, they technically could see it; it just required following along with a cellphone livestream shared on social media:
y’all these are some of THE WILDEST numbers WOW pic.twitter.com/DJF6Xloss1
— alli (@heyheyitsalli) May 4, 2024
“Anybody that watched it should send three bucks to the person, I don’t even know who it is,” Reeve told reporters. “I think that what I would say is that the growth is happening so fast. It’s so accelerated. And I’ve been saying this in our own organization—that business as usual isn’t going to work anymore.
“You’re gonna get left behind and this is an example.” With both Reese and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark in action, Friday’s Sky game was not available over traditional or digital airwaves. Preseason games have rarely been broadcast outside of local markets so it came as no surprise when the WNBA’s official X account affirmed that remained the case this year.
The WNBA has been trending upward for a while now, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert spearheading some initiatives that would accompany the league’s growing popularity. There was the new app introduced last season, improved stat-tracking, and a TV deal with ION to broadcast games nationally on Friday night. If the early returns are any indicator, the WNBA is going to see a spike in interest unlike anything it has experienced in a long time thanks in no small part to the 2024 rookie class.
