Angel Reese GOES NUTS After EMPTY Arena Without Caitlin Clark! THIS IS BAD!

Despite Angel Reese being hailed as the new face of the WNBA thanks to her massive social media following, the reality inside the arena tells a very different story. In the recent matchup between the Chicago Sky (Reese) and the Dallas Wings, featuring rising star Paige Bueckers, fans expected a sellout crowd and an electric atmosphere. But that’s not what happened.

Empty Seats and Cheap Tickets

Wintrust Arena, the site of the game, holds nearly 10,000 seats. Yet, only 9,025 people were reported in attendance—a figure that raised eyebrows, especially since cameras rarely panned out to show the full crowd during the broadcast. Just 30 minutes before tipoff, tickets were going for as little as $20 online, and only 41 tickets were sold in the final hour before the game. For a matchup hyped as a “clash of social media superstars” like Reese and Bueckers, these numbers are strikingly low.

The Truth Behind the Social Media “Hype”

Angel Reese is currently the most-followed WNBA player on Instagram, and Paige Bueckers is not far behind. However, likes, shares, and followers aren’t translating into real-life ticket sales. Games without Caitlin Clark—the true “needle-mover” for the WNBA—have seen significant drops in both in-person attendance and TV ratings.

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Indiana Fever games featuring Clark consistently draw impressive viewership. For example, when Clark played, the Fever vs. Mystics game pulled in 581,000 viewers; without her, the same matchup barely reached 357,000. Another marquee game between the Fever and Liberty peaked at a staggering 3.24 million viewers—clear proof of Clark’s unmatched appeal.

Why Can’t the WNBA “Break Through”?

The league’s heavy reliance on a handful of stars like Clark exposes a major weakness: a lack of strategy to build and maintain interest among casual fans. When Clark is out with injury, the entire league feels the impact—ticket sales drop, TV ratings dip, and even the hype around marquee names like Reese or Bueckers isn’t enough to fill seats.

Even with big brands like Reebok investing in Reese with signature deals and exclusive merchandise, this hasn’t yet translated into packed arenas. Overhyped matchups still see empty stands, and sometimes the TV production quality feels lackluster, further hurting the fan experience.

What Does the WNBA Need to Do?

To truly grow, the WNBA needs more than just social media buzz. The league must invest in better marketing, improve the in-arena and broadcast experience, and find ways to keep fans engaged even when their biggest stars aren’t on the court. Relying on one or two players is a risky game—if they’re injured or absent, the momentum stalls, and the casual fans the league desperately needs will tune out.

The disconnect between online hype and actual support is becoming impossible to ignore. For the WNBA to build a sustainable fan base, it must evolve beyond the social media numbers and create a genuine, compelling product that keeps fans coming back—no matter who’s playing.