Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wants to see the WNBA focus its promotional energy on more than just Caitlin Clark.
Clark and the Indiana Fever play their first preseason game on Friday night against the Dallas Wings, and the WNBA social platforms promoted the top overall pick’s debut by making it available for free nationally on the league’s app.
Reeve apparently felt slighted that the Lynx, who have their own preseason debut against the Chicago Sky on Friday, will not be available for anyone to watch unless they buy a ticket.
“ALSO in action tonight – @minnesotalynx vs @chicagosky. 7pm CST,” Reeve wrote on X on Friday afternoon.
“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.”
Reeve, 57, has been head coach of the Lynx since 2010 and the team has won four WNBA championships under her leadership, and she is also the head coach of the USA women’s basketball team.
She also won two WNBA championships as an assistant coach on the Detroit Shock (who later became the Wings).
Clark promises to bring a whole new level of fanfare to the WNBA, but it is somewhat understandable that a person with Reeve’s level of accomplishment would feel like the league is giving Clark preferential treatment.
Clark acknowledged in a recent interview with Pat McAfee that all of the attention has been wild.
“It’s been a whirlwind. … I feel like I’ve tried to do my best,” Clark said of all of her exposure.
“I think that’s the biggest piece of advice [retired WNBA legend] Sue Bird gave me is, ‘Just take a breath, soak it in. You only get drafted one time, you only get these moments once, so you need to enjoy it. You can’t go back and do this ever again.’”