The 2024 WNBA season commenced with preseason games on Friday, marking the potential start of a pivotal season for women’s professional basketball. However, the league appeared ill-prepared for the occasion. Despite the much-anticipated WNBA debuts of four highly touted 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, also making their debuts, were not covered live, prompting viewers to resort to a fan’s cellphone livestream from the stands. This discrepancy, along with issues like the absence of charter team flights and conflicts in arena scheduling, underscores the WNBA’s apparent lack of readiness to fully capitalize on the “Caitlin Clark effect.”

Fans eagerly awaiting the WNBA preseason debuts of star rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso were disappointed when the game was inaccessible through the WNBA League Pass. However, a creative 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.

In response to fan disappointment, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve commented on the use of livestreams 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.”

Upon joining the WNBA, many stars encounter a significant adjustment: transitioning from the convenience of private flights during their collegiate careers to the challenges of commercial air travel throughout the WNBA regular season. This change raises serious concerns regarding safety, well-being, and logistical challenges for WNBA teams. So far this season, notable players like Caitlin Clark have faced their first experiences navigating crowded airports, dealing with a barrage of media attention, and encountering airport passengers capturing photos and videos as they move through terminals, highlighting the unique challenges faced by WNBA athletes.