Coach Cheryl Reeve calls out WNBA for favoring Caitlin Clark in promotions
Lynx’s head coach demands a fair promotional strategy from the league
Uneven spotlight: Coach Cheryl Reeve highlights overemphasis on Caitlin ClarkLAPRESSE
Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso show chemistry but suffer defeat in Chicago Sky debut
Caitlin Clark shoots like she did at Iowa but struggles with turnovers in Indiana Fever debut
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve expressed her discontent with the WNBA‘s promotional strategies, which heavily favored newcomer Caitlin Clark over other teams and players. As the Lynx geared up for their preseason debut against the Chicago Sky, Reeve took to social media to highlight the disparity in visibility compared to Clark’s much-publicized first game with the Indiana Fever.
“ALSO in action tonight – @minnesotalynx vs @chicagosky. 7pm CST,” Reeve posted, pointing out that while the Fever’s game was streamed for free nationwide, Lynx fans would need to either attend in person or follow a play-by-play on the team’s app due to the lack of broadcast options. This move by the WNBA to spotlight Clark, the league’s top draft pick, has sparked discussions about the balance of promotional efforts across the league.
ALSO in action tonight – @minnesotalynx vs @chicagosky 7pm CST. Though fans won't be able to watch, #Lynx fans can go to the Lynx app to follow along via play by play. Or if you are in market, come to the game…as we start the season off right ✅#12teams
#theWismorethanoneplayer https://t.co/Wp5vwt8ucK— Cheryl Reeve (@LynxCoachReeve) May 3, 2024
Reeve, a stalwart of women’s basketball with four WNBA championships and two Olympic gold medals as the head coach of the USA team, expressed her concern that the league’s focus on Clark might overshadow the contributions and talents of other players and teams. “The W is more than one player,” Reeve emphasized, calling for a more inclusive approach to promoting the league.
Reeve urges the league to diversify its promotional efforts beyond just one star player
Clark‘s ascent has indeed been meteoric, with the young star admitting to feeling overwhelmed by the attention. “It’s been a whirlwind…I’ve tried to do my best,” Clark shared in an interview, echoing the sage advice of WNBA legend Sue Bird to ‘take a breath’ and enjoy the moment.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the WNBA balances its promotional efforts to not only capitalize on the star power of players like Clark but also honor the achievements and appeal of seasoned veterans and teams like Reeve’s Lynx.
