Empty Seats Expose the Truth: Caitlin Clark Takes Over the WNBA While Angel Reese Struggles to Fill the Arena
When the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese returned to Baton Rouge for a much-hyped preseason exhibition, LSU’s own “Bayou Barbie” was supposed to receive a hero’s welcome. There were echoes of her college glory—the LSU national championship, the celebrations, the star treatment that once elevated her to household-name status. By all accounts, it should have been a slam dunk for women’s basketball, another feather in the cap for Reese’s personal brand as a new face of the league.
But the reality inside the 13,000-seat Pete Maravich Assembly Center told a different story—one lined with empty rows, silence, and a glaring contrast to the attention lavished on another rookie tearing up the WNBA: Caitlin Clark.
“The Bayou Barbie” Returns, but the Fans Don’t Follow
Social media clips and photos from Angel Reese’s homecoming spread quickly: the building was less than half full, with just about 6,300 fans (by official count, perhaps generously). Entire sections sat empty and the upper deck was closed off; tickets were selling for less than $10, occasionally being handed out for free. Even the broadcast zoomed in to avoid showing the barren stands.
It was a far cry from Reese’s young stardom at LSU—especially for a player who boldly declared she was the main reason people now watched women’s basketball. If that’s true, then why couldn’t her own alma mater pack the arena for her return?
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark Ignites the WNBA
The answer became more glaring given what was happening at Caitlin Clark’s preseason games. In Iowa, for her WNBA preseason debut, Carver-Hawkeye Arena was electric, packing nearly 15,000 fans. Tickets disappeared in 27 minutes; resale prices soared as fans traveled from across the Midwest. This wasn’t just hype—it was measurable, record-setting demand.
Clark’s impact is so significant that opposing WNBA teams are already upgrading to larger arenas just host the Indiana Fever, knowing the “Clark Effect” will bring overflow crowds and a local economic windfall.
The Hype vs. Reality: A Divide the League Can’t Ignore
The juxtaposition is too stark to miss. While one celebrated rookie is playing to packed houses and record TV ratings, the other struggles to fill even half her own college gym—despite a social media following in the millions and months of viral headlines.
Empty seats don’t lie. Reese’s homecoming, marketed as a coronation, became an awkward case study in the difference between online fame and actual drawing power. The narrative that she’s singlehandedly changing the game has been undercut by the reality—crowds just aren’t answering the call.
“Every Game Is a Home Game” — But Not For Everyone
The Indiana Fever themselves are leaning into their newfound popularity, releasing merchandise reading “Every game is a home game” and sharing images of sold-out venues. Angel Reese, despite the personality, the partnerships, and the promise, is seeing the gap widen between brand and basketball.
Why Does It Matter?
It’s not a personal attack: it’s a wake-up call. WNBA growth depends on players who can both inspire and draw fans through the turnstiles—not just on TikTok or Instagram, but in actual attendance, ticket sales, and TV viewership. Clark is delivering “can’t-miss” energy; Angel Reese, right now, only delivers influencers and highlight reels.
The numbers speak for themselves:
Caitlin Clark’s preseason game: Sold out in under half an hour, fans paying hundreds (even thousands) on resale
Angel Reese’s preseason homecoming: Over 6,800 empty seats, discounted tickets left untouched, and an atmosphere more akin to open-mic night than WNBA spectacle
The Bottom Line
Clark is packing arenas she’s never played in and changing who watches women’s basketball—spawning a traveling roadshow of full venues and frenzied anticipation. By comparison, even Reese’s most loyal fanbase didn’t turn out in force when it counted most.
No amount of Instagram followers, sponsorship deals, or PR spin can fill a stadium—or replace the “buzz” of a true superstar. If Angel Reese wants to lay claim as the WNBA’s new main attraction, she’ll have to bridge the gap between online attention and in-person turnout.
Until then, the receipts don’t lie: Caitlin Clark is the real draw, and the empty seats in Baton Rouge said it louder than any hashtag ever could.
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