Angel Reese Sparks Firestorm After Blaming Young Fans and Racism for NCAA Final Four Ratings Collapse
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four should have been a celebration of elite talent, competitive excellence, and the continued rise of women’s college basketball. But instead, it’s become ground zero for one of the most explosive controversies in recent sports memory. Not because of a game-winning buzzer-beater, a Cinderella run, or even a viral highlight. This time, the headlines are being driven by an eyebrow-raising statement from Chicago Sky rookie and former LSU star Angel Reese—and it all stems from a jaw-dropping 71% drop in viewership compared to the previous year.
To put it plainly, the 2024 tournament saw over 10 million fewer viewers than 2023. That’s not just a dip. It’s a collapse.
In 2023, the women’s Final Four reached historic heights, thanks in large part to a high-stakes showdown between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese—two generational stars with charisma, skill, and competitive fire. Over 18 million people tuned in to watch the title game between Iowa and LSU. It was trash talk meets top-tier basketball. It was fierce. It was fun. It was must-watch TV.
But one year later? The tournament drew just 5.3 million viewers. And Reese, who has never been afraid to speak her mind, had a theory—and it wasn’t about the matchups, marketing, or momentum.
“Y’all only watched last year because of the white girls,” Reese reportedly said in a recent interview. “Let’s keep it real. It’s racism, plain and simple.”
Let that sink in.
Reese doubled down, claiming that young white girls only watched last year because Caitlin Clark, a white player from Iowa, was the face of the tournament. “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,” she added.
In a matter of seconds, Reese managed to flip a conversation about disappointing viewership numbers into a polarizing national debate about race, representation, and responsibility in women’s sports.
The backlash was immediate.
Many fans and analysts took issue with what they viewed as an inflammatory—and deeply unfair—accusation. After all, basketball is a game that thrives on competition, storylines, and chemistry. And last year’s tournament had all three. The drama between Clark and Reese, the iconic gestures, the post-game commentary—it wasn’t just about race. It was about the kind of rivalry that transcends identity.
The 2024 tournament lacked that spark. That’s not an indictment of the talent on display—there were still powerhouse teams, skilled athletes, and compelling games—but the absence of Clark and LSU in a direct rematch, or another dramatic narrative to pull in casual fans, mattered.
The energy simply wasn’t the same.
Even Reese’s own supporters were caught off guard by her comments. Some argued she was simply frustrated and speaking from the heart. Others saw it as a deflection—an unwillingness to acknowledge that sometimes, the product doesn’t deliver the same heat.
The numbers don’t lie. Caitlin Clark is one of the most marketable, electric players women’s basketball has ever seen. Her style, range, and confidence have captivated millions. But that’s not because she’s white—it’s because she’s damn good. The same can be said for Reese, who earned her own fanbase through her grit, defensive dominance, and flair. The idea that young fans tuned in strictly because of race oversimplifies what made last year’s tournament so captivating.
Sports is about storylines. And 2023 had one of the best: two dynamic stars with different styles, backgrounds, and swagger facing off on the biggest stage. It created a viral moment. The rematch never came. And without that headline-grabbing narrative, the casual audience simply didn’t tune in the same way.
To be clear, race and representation do matter in sports. Diversity on the court is essential. Young fans of all backgrounds need to see players who look like them succeeding. But to blame a drop in ratings solely on racial bias is a dangerous oversimplification—and it alienates the very fanbase women’s basketball has worked so hard to build.
Instead of focusing on what the league didn’t deliver this year, Reese opted to throw shade at the audience. And in doing so, she may have unwittingly widened a divide that women’s sports have been working to bridge for decades.
The truth is, Reese doesn’t need to stoke controversy to stay relevant. Her talent speaks for itself. But when statements like these go viral, they don’t elevate the game—they polarize it.
What’s worse, the timing couldn’t be more damaging. The WNBA is experiencing a surge in attention thanks to an exciting rookie class—including both Reese and Clark—and the league is finally getting the mainstream exposure it’s long deserved. Comments that pit fans against players based on race only serve to distract from that progress.
Reese has every right to speak her truth. But with a platform comes responsibility. Suggesting that millions of viewers are motivated purely by racial preferences is not just divisive—it’s dismissive of the athletes, coaches, and fans who have supported this game regardless of who’s holding the ball.
Perhaps the real question Reese—and others—should be asking is this: how can we build on the momentum of 2023? How do we continue telling stories that resonate across audiences? How do we ensure that the next Final Four brings just as much heat, just as much drama, and just as much unity?
Because the truth is, everyone benefits when women’s basketball thrives. That includes Caitlin Clark. That includes Angel Reese. That includes the little girls watching—no matter what they look like.
And if the focus shifts back to the court, to the rivalries, to the buzzer-beaters and passion that made last year unforgettable, then the viewership will come back. But not if we keep blaming fans for turning away, instead of giving them a reason to stay.
