By Black & White Sports Editorial Team
Calzado deportivo
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four is in the books — but this year’s tournament wasn’t remembered for buzzer-beaters or highlight-reel performances. Instead, it was defined by a shocking 71% drop in viewership compared to the record-shattering 2023 numbers… and an even more shocking response from one of women’s basketball’s biggest names.
After the numbers came in showing a loss of over 10 million viewers, Chicago Sky rookie and former LSU standout Angel Reese didn’t point to the quality of games or lack of star power. Instead, she called out what she believes to be a root cause:
“Y’all only watched last year because of the white girls. Let’s keep it real. It’s racism, plain and simple.”
Yeah. She said that.
The Drop Heard ‘Round the Hoops World
In 2023, the NCAA Women’s Tournament was a cultural moment. Over 18 million viewers tuned in to see Caitlin Clark lead Iowa to the championship game against Reese’s LSU Tigers in one of the most electric matchups in recent memory. Trash talk. Swagger. Star power. It had everything — and it showed.
Fast-forward to 2024, and the same juice just wasn’t there. Even with elite teams, highly skilled players, and Angel Reese back in the spotlight, viewership fell off a cliff — down to around 5.3 million.
That’s more than 10 million fewer people watching.
Blame the Fans? Or Blame the Product?
Reese wasted no time chiming in, and instead of chalking it up to competition, scheduling, or perhaps fan fatigue, she zeroed in on race.
“Little girls didn’t watch because it wasn’t about them anymore. When it’s us out front, they turn the TV off. We see it every time.”
But here’s the thing: this kind of narrative doesn’t land well when it’s tossed out with no accountability.
Was the tournament as compelling without a Clark-Reese showdown? Maybe not.
Was the media coverage as relentless this time around? Definitely not.
Was the product still strong? Sure — but were casual fans locked in? Clearly not.
Facts Over Feelings
Let’s take a step back. The 2023 tournament wasn’t just watched because Caitlin Clark is white. It was watched because the matchups were elite, the personalities were engaging, and there was a rivalry that captivated the nation. It was basketball first, not identity politics.
And that’s the problem with Reese’s take. Instead of owning the fact that this tournament didn’t deliver the same sizzle — or that the marketing and matchups just didn’t grab fans the same way — she chose to play the race card and throw shade at an entire audience.
