WNBA’s focus on ratings magnet Clark, all-time leading NCAA scorer, baffles critics who cry ‘racism’

The WNBA is exploding in popularity and experiencing growing pains in the preseason. Rookie phenoms Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso made their professional debuts on Friday, but only Clark’s game with the Indiana Fever aired on television and on streaming platforms.

Reese and Cardoso’s debut with the Chicago Sky was not available through local broadcast or the WNBA’s league pass. The omission led some fans to raise concerns about racism as Clark, who is White, receives more media attention than her Black counterparts. 

“The WNBA is wild embarrassing. To not have Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardosa’s games on the league pass is insane,” one fan wrote on X. “Angel Reese is one of the reasons why women’s basketball is getting so much attention but they made sure to put the white girl front and center, I’m tired of them.”

One person in the stands at the Chicago Sky’s matchup with the Minnesota Lynx live-streamed the game from their phone on social media. The stream has been viewed more than 2 million times in less than 48 hours. 

WNBA officials apologized for the streaming issue on social media. Only four preseason games —- including both of the Indiana Fever’s matchups — will air on the league’s app before the regular season begins on May 14. 

“Why not shine that light for ALL the ‘other’ Rookies that are also playing today,” an X user wrote on Friday. “We see what’s up and adding to the narrative and creating more division is ridiculous.”