Meagan Thee Stallion kicked off her Hot Girl Summer Tour twerking on Chi-Barbie with Glorilla in front of a sold out crowd at the United Center in Chicago on Friday night.

Megan Thee Stallion. Glorilla. Latto.@Reese10Angel is becoming every woman in rap’s favorite hooper.

(via: angelreese10 TikTok, Latto777 TikTok, @thewavecheckk) pic.twitter.com/v8G01WS7Bl

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 20, 2024

Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at the Cubs vs. Braves game held at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, marking another memorable moment in her young career.

The are in the building! pic.twitter.com/B1WuSxjkUf

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 21, 2024

 On Wednesday, it was announced that Reese has become a co-owner of the women’s pro soccer team, the DC Power Football Club.

Welcome DC Power FC Co-Owner, @Reese10Angel!

“I’m honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women’s soccer in the DMV community to continue elevating female athletes and the women’s game across the board.” – Angel Reese pic.twitter.com/BaasN16vdk

— DC Power Football Club (@DCPowerFC) May 21, 2024

Thursday night, she assisted her teammates in defeating the New York Liberty, 90-81. She played just over 31 minutes of game action. Reese has been flirting with notching her first double-double since the season tipped off. Against the Liberty, she has 13 points, nine rebounds, an assist, and one steal. She’s creating fouls and buried 7 of 9 free throws.   

LIBERTY, BIBERTY, CEDRIC DIGGORY

WE DON’T CARE ABOUT NONE OF THAT, OR YOUR LIL UNDEFEATED STREAK

SKY WIN!#skytown pic.twitter.com/ZfTZY87Vxg

— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) May 24, 2024

Angel Reese averages 12.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in her first three professional games.

Center Kamilla Cardoso projects to return from her shoulder injury on June 1. Teresa Weatherspoon will have her championship-pedigreed twin towers ready as the Sky will meet Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

No. 3-draft pick Kamilla Cardoso is nursing a shoulder injury and should be ready to join the team in a few weeks.  Her return could potentially bring a significant boost to the team’s performance, adding depth and strength to the roster.

The Mystics announced moving its game with the Chicago Sky to Capital One Arena.

Angel Reese/Kamilla Cardoso effect: Mystics move their June 6 home game against the Chicago Sky from their home building, the Entertainment and Sports Arena (capacity 4,200), to Capital One Arena (capacity 20,000): pic.twitter.com/UPeJlpNpNZ

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) May 14, 2024

The Sky will play Indiana and Caitlin Clark for an NBA TV broadcast on Saturday, June 1.

Allow us to introduce to you…
𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐒𝐤𝐲!#skytown pic.twitter.com/kpCNV8Dd5y

— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) May 13, 2024

CHICAGO SKY 2024 FULL BROADCAST SCHEDULE  

*CC = Commissioner’s Cup Games  

The game between Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx was thrilling, showcasing the exciting new connection between Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Their debut surely didn’t disappoint their rookie head coach, Teresa Weatherspoon.  

“They came from great programs,” Weatherspoon said in her postgame interview. “They’re winners. They’re champions. They’re competitors. They compete. So, this is just a learning process for them. We’ve got leaders on this team that’s going to bring them along, and bring them along well. And that’s what matters. We play with and for each other.”

Reese was a starter in the preseason opener. The ‘Chi-Town Barbie’ played 24 minutes and contributed 13 points, nine rebounds (4 Defensive, 5 Offensive), a pair of steals, and one block as the Sky fell 92-81 to the Lynx. Also, she forced several fouls and went 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. Unfortunately, Reese had five personal fouls and two turnovers.

Angel Reese’s offensive rebound & putback.

: @heyheyitsalli #WNBA #SkyTown@Reese10Angel pic.twitter.com/goNS9GbYSI

— SUMMER (@SummerDC_) May 4, 2024

“She just got her feet wet,” Weatherspoon responded to a question about Reese’s foul trouble. “There’s nothing to be worried about, nothing at all. You’re talking about a freaking competitor. We’re going to be fine. We’re going to look at film. We’re going to get better. She loved every minute of this. Trust me.”

Kamilla Cardoso came off the bench and played for 13 minutes in her first outing. The center went 3 of 5 from the field, scoring six points, grabbing four rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and a steal.

Unfortunately, the WNBA had a major flub last night. Due to an omission and opportunity to cash in, fans were left searching beyond the Fever-Wings game for the Sky-Lynx showdown with Reese and Cardoso. Many were able to watch a stream on X from @heyheyitsalli’s account.

The game, which streamed up to 300K viewers at one point and now has over 1.7M views, was a missed opportunity for the league. By having it on League Pass, the WNBA could have capitalized on the potential earnings from these two new burgeoning stars and dynamic duo.

Angel Reese to Kamilla Cardoso in their WNBA preseason debuts

(via @chicagosky) pic.twitter.com/Aw7uX6V3uj

— espnW (@espnW) May 4, 2024

“The Lynx-Sky game was moved from Sat to Fri causing issues for Bally Sports who already committed to broadcasting the Twins game,” according to Rob Knox.

In what can be described as Caitlin Clark’s coming out party, the NCAA scoring champion made a significant impact.  She scored 21 points, grabbed three rebounds, and had a pair of assists and steals.  However, the downside was her committing five turnovers, which played a role in the Fever’s 79-76 loss to the Wings.

With the arrival of new talents like Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Caitlin Clark, the WNBA has a wealth of star power for this season. It will be up to the league’s brass to understand how to capitalize on these new arrivals instead of focusing solely on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever games.  

Despite past struggles with viewership and fan engagement, the league’s diverse talent pool promises an exciting future but must learn to convert into financial windfalls.

Dawn Staley’s remarkable achievement of securing her third national championship with her Gamecocks team should’ve been the focal point for the media — but it wasn’t.  However, media bias online, in print, and during the broadcast demonstrated an inequity in one of the greatest moments for women’s sports.  Especially, a day before the championship game when a reporter attempted to create a pivotal news story regarding Coach Staley’s stance on transgenders in sports.

ABC MISSED THE REAL MOMENT TO MAKE HISTORY

ABC’s production before, during, and following the game slanted for Caitlin Clark and Iowa, eventually overshadowing South Carolina’s tremendous accomplishment.   Whoever made the call in the booth must be replaced or realize that broadcasting inequity is a thing of the past.  

It no longer has a place.  Fair reporting and representation are necessary across all our sports communities and platforms.

Dawn Staley’s team is 38-0.  She joined an elite club of nine collegiate coaches to lead their teams to an undefeated season and national championship title.  The three-time national championship coach takes her rightful place among Geno Auriemma, John Wooden, Pat Summit, Kim Mulkey, Phil Woolpert, Frank McGuire, Bob Knight, and Jody Conradt as “The Unbeatens.”

REVISIONIST BROADCASTING

The producer clung to the advertised storyline, unwilling to make the edit. Dawn Staley had an all-new starting lineup. Last year’s starters found new homes via the 2023 WNBA Draft.  

She trusted her players, especially the freshmen, filled with abundant talent and confidence. After Clark rattled off 18-first quarter points, she made a cataclysmic switch. Raven Johnson was to guard the sharpshooter.  

Staley had the faith and belief Johnson could shut down the all-time NCAA scoring leader. What happened next was legendary.

Last night and this morning, little was mentioned in the headlines of Johnson’s masterful defensive job against the sharpshooter.  

She stole the basketball twice, blocked her shot, locked her down, made her shots, and frustrated Iowa’s greatest hope. Raven Johnson found redemption. After Clark repeatedly waved her off in last year’s semifinal game, Johnson doesn’t have to watch video of that game another day of her life.

As the Gamecocks’ faces were beaming with smiles and Iowa’s dream slowly fading, ESPN decided against spotlighting Raven Johnson, Kamilla Cardoso, Te-Hina Paopao, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Ashlyn Watkins, Tessa Johnson, Montes Claros, Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts, Bree Hall, and Sakima Walker.  Instead, the cameras and attention of the network were drawn to the star player of the losing team, the Iowa bench, and their walk down the tunnel to the locker room.

At points during the broadcast, ESPN’s play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco slanted his more positive commentary toward Iowa. Two, in particular, categorize Clark’s talent as having “video-game vision” and making treys as she “shoots from the future.”   

I get it. It’s the dramatic flair for television, but there weren’t as vivid portraits of the South Carolina players as you rewind the tape.  Ruocco’s best delivery for the champs was “Raven Johnson picks the pocket of Clark” before expanding the lead by three before halftime.

MEDIA MUST HAVE TRUE REPRESENTATION WITHIN THE NEWSROOM AND BROADCAST BOOTH

Media outlets must do a better job portraying our athletes. Jim Trotter spoke out against the NFL Network’s lack of minority representation as managers on the newsdesk, which seems to be the case within the production booth at ABC/ESPN.

For now, the South Carolina Gamecocks will celebrate. Coach Dawn Staley will praise “The Lord.” History is set. For the rest of those young ladies’ lives, they will be known as the 2024 Undefeated Women’s Basketball National Champions! Will it make much of a difference to the media decision-makers?

We shall see.