Fan Steps In To Livestream Angel Reese, Cardoso Debuts After WNBA Doesn't Broadcast

The WNBA debuts of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso were widely watched on a social media livestream from a fan who stepped in when the leagues app couldnt broadcast the game.

Reese and Cardoso played in their first preseason game for the Chicago Sky on Friday night in a 92-81 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.

The WNBAs app had incorrectly listed the game as available to watch, leading to confusion from fans before the league clarified that only Caitlin Clarks debut with the Indiana Fever was being broadcast.

Thats when @heyheyitsalli stepped in on X.

Would yall want me to try and stream the game on here?? the X user asked, no promises on the quality but i can try.

Viewership numbers on the livestream varied, but on Saturday the video showed about 434,000 total views. The X user previously posted a screenshot showing that the stream peaked at 173,381 live viewers.

Yall these are some of THE WILDEST numbers WOW, the user tweeted .

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was asked about the stream after the game. She said @heyheyitsalli deserves three bucks per viewer.

Anybody that watched it should send three bucks to the person, I dont even know who it is, Reeve said. I think that what I would say is that the growth is happening so fast. Its so accelerated. And Ive been saying this in our own organization that business as usual isnt going to work anymore.

Youre gonna get left behind and this is an example.

Reeve said she understands that Clarks game would be broadcast, and is all for that.

People want to see that, but they also want to see, you know, its not just about Caitlin, Reeve said. This isnt Caitlins fault in any way. Its more, you know, the recognition that theres general excitement about the WNBA in ways that we havent seen before. And so we have to capitalize to really ensure that this is a movement.

Reese finished the game with 13 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes. Cardoso had six points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.

Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said she was pleased with the rookies debuts.

This is a learning process for all of us. ... And were going through that process in the right way, she said. We got our leaders leading them, pulling them along. Keeping them confident. Thats what matters. So were in a great place and theyre in a hell of a great place.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball