After Angel Reese’s Viral Demand, Gilbert Arenas Rushes to WNBA Star’s Aid Amid Caitlin Clark Controversy

The WNBA is inching towards its primetime era, a big part in thanks to its rookie class. Along with growing viewership compared to past seasons, the games are drawing massive crowds to large arenas. It’s undeniable that the big ticket attraction are the NCAA products who made women’s basketball a thrilling watch. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Cameron Brink and others collectively deserve credit for boosting WNBA revenue. However, some factions online like to debate who deserves more credit for it. Gilbert Arenas wants to curb the fan rivalry.

Balleralert presented some statistics about growing WNBA revenue under the headline, “WNBA Enjoys Record Growth Thanks to Angel Reese & The Rookie Class.” Reese’s namedrop over No.1 draft pick, Caitlin Clark triggered more than a few. A debate raged in the comments only over whose name deserves to get mentioned.

One Instagram user commented, “Ain’t cuz of her lol we y’all LL know it…why is attendance sales 4K to 7k for her games and the rest of the W but Fever games 14 to 17k?” A lurker on these online debates, No Chill Gil noted this commented and responded, “dont do that….mystics avg was 4500 last year…angel cane to town and it was 10k so she doubled it..which no other team did that…yes when clark got to town she beat that but this aint about those two against each other…if angel wasnt on the team that area would have been 4500 playing at the mystics arena not cap 1.”

Arenas is one of the few NBA veterans who has been defensive about both Clark and Reese. He’s been calling out the WNBA for not protecting its rookies like Clark and Reese. But at the same time, he says that Reese doesn’t need protection in comparison to Clark.

As per the contentious article, WNBA attendance collectively has been up 400,000 and viewership is averaging 1.32 million, triple of what the WNBA games attracted last season. The piece didn’t present separate statistics for Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever though the debate went on. Sky’s CEO Adam Fox said that Cardo and Reese combined have grown ticket sales by 33% and revenue by 58%. Indiana Fever saw a 93% growth in revenue since selecting Clark, 13x times from the team revenue last year.

Before the rookies completed a month in a league, the WNBA saw a 14% increase in attendance. New York Liberty and Indiana Fever have the highest numbers so far. But most neutral parties contend that it’s not one player behind it all. The Magic Johnson-Larry Bird-esque rivalry between Clark and Reese together is responsible for ushering in a new era for WNBA.

Gilbert Arenas demands due credit for WNBA rookies

Arenas is well aware about the big attraction both Reese and Clark are. So much that he’s appalled at WNBA’s rising stars being left off the Olympics roster. Especially Clark. It’s speculated that people would be outraged if CC’s playtime is limited. Arenas found that illogical and he raged why.

“You’re saying millions of people will be mad if she doesn’t play a lot. Well, that means a million people won’t be viewing if she’s not on the team. If she’s on the team, the jersey sales [would spike]. Do you think you can sell more jersey with or without her?” he said while making comparisons to the 1992 Dream Team of NBA superstars.

Despite this previous commentary, Arenas acknowledges it’s not one person’s effort. The way he swooped in with the numbers proves it.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video