The 2024 WNBA season kicked off with preseason matchups on Friday, signaling the beginning of what could be a landmark season for women's professional basketball. However, the WNBA seems unprepared for the occasion. Despite the much anticipated WNBA debut’s of four highly rated rookies, only Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon were featured in live broadcasts via the WNBA app and WNBA League Pass on Friday night. Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, who also debuted on Friday evening, missed out on live coverage, leaving viewers to turn to a fan’s cellphone livestream of the game from the stands. This disparity, along with issues such as a lack of charter team flights and arena scheduling conflicts, highlights the WNBA's apparent lack of readiness to fully capitalize on the "Caitlin Clark effect."
Cellphone Live-Stream of Sky v. Lynx
Fans who had been eager to witness the WNBA preseason debuts of star rookie Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso were met with disappointment when the game was not accessible through the WNBA League Pass. However, a resourceful solution emerged: nearly 1 million viewers tuned in via a fan's livestream on X, captured on her cellphone by user, @heyheyitsalli. By midnight, the video post had garnered over 800,000 views and been shared more than 2,300 times. Following the disappointment experienced by fans, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve addressed the use of a livestream in the absence of televised coverage. "The pace of growth is remarkable, it's exponential. The old ways won't suffice anymore; you risk being left behind," Reeve remarked on the league's broadcasting constraints. "This incident serves as a case in point. We must seize such opportunities."
Lack of Charter Flights
Upon entering the WNBA, numerous stars face a significant adjustment: transitioning from the ease of private flights during their collegiate careers to the rigors of commercial air travel throughout the WNBA regular season. This shift raises serious concerns regarding safety, well-being, and logistical challenges for WNBA teams. So far this season, notable players like Caitlin Clark have encountered their first taste of navigating crowded airports, contending with a barrage of media attention and airport passengers capturing photos and videos as they traverse through terminals, exemplifying the unique challenges faced by WNBA athletes.
Scheduling Conflicts
WNBA teams
continue to face scheduling conflicts for games and practice given the lack of solely WNBA team venues. Most recently, the Indiana Fever had to move their sold-out pre-season home opener
up one day to accommodate the Indiana Pacers playoff schedule. Nearly 17,000 fans will need to adjust their schedules in order to attend the game, a significant inconvenience and one that effects the overall legitimacy of the league.
Long-Term Implications of Inequity
