In a surprising turn of events, the WNBA’s official X account made an announcement just a few hours before the Chicago Sky’s highly anticipated first preseason game. This game marked the eagerly awaited moment when former NCAA rivals Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso would finally take to the court together, a prospect that had fans buzzing with excitement. However, to the dismay of many, the game was not broadcasted, leaving supporters disheartened and searching for alternative means to catch the action. Despite the absence of an official broadcast, one resourceful fan managed to find an illegal stream, offering a glimmer of hope for those desperate to witness the matchup.

Among those disappointed by the lack of coverage was Phoenix’s WNBA champion, Brittney Griner, who took to Instagram to express her frustration. Griner, a nine-time WNBA All-Star, shared her thoughts in an Instagram story, lamenting the absence of the game on League Pass and questioning the decision-making process behind it. She emphasized the importance of featuring players like Reese and Cardoso on prominent platforms, highlighting their significance in shaping the narrative of women’s basketball and attracting attention to the sport.

Griner’s sentiments were echoed by others in the basketball community, including High Level Media Sports, who criticized the WNBA’s handling of the situation. The sports news company underscored the missed opportunity to showcase rising talents like Reese and Cardoso, emphasizing their role in elevating the profile of women’s basketball and garnering widespread interest.

The absence of such a highly anticipated matchup raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the WNBA’s broadcasting policies and commitment to promoting the league’s emerging stars. As fans eagerly await future games, there is hope that lessons will be learned from this incident, ensuring that exciting matchups receive the attention and coverage they deserve in the future.

The absence of tonight’s game from television broadcasts, live streams, and League Pass coverage, running parallel to the Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings matchup, sparked significant disappointment among basketball enthusiasts. Contrary to initial assumptions, the decision to exclude the game from viewing options was not made by the WNBA, despite speculation circulating among fans.

The announcement triggered a flurry of criticism on social media platforms, with many fans attributing the omission to the league’s alleged bias towards certain players, notably Caitlin Clark, while neglecting others such as Angel Reese and her teammates. However, clarifications from both the WNBA and Athlon Sports shed light on the actual cause, attributing it to the broadcaster, Bally Sports North, who chose to prioritize coverage of a Major League Baseball team due to a recent TV deal.

The sudden turn of events left supporters of Reese, affectionately dubbed Chi-Town Barbie, feeling disillusioned. Recognized as a transformative figure in women’s basketball in recent years, her absence from the televised lineup was met with widespread disappointment and frustration within the basketball community. Despite this setback, the WNBA assured fans that not all preseason games would suffer the same fate, emphasizing that regular season games would remain accessible through League Pass on the WNBA app and televised broadcasts.

In essence, while tonight’s game may have been overshadowed by unexpected broadcasting decisions, the WNBA remains committed to providing ample opportunities for fans to engage with the sport, ensuring that the excitement and action of the regular season will be readily available for viewing.