Angel Reese’s return to LSU should have been a triumphant homecoming. After all, this is the same Pete Maravich Assembly Center that once roared for her as she led the Tigers to a national championship. The Chicago Sky scheduled a preseason game against the Brazilian national team in Baton Rouge, setting the stage for Reese to bask in the adoration of her college fans one more time. But when the night arrived, the reality was hard to ignore: just 6,373 fans showed up in an arena that holds over 13,000. Entire sections sat empty, and the energy that once electrified the building was nowhere to be found.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Reese has spent the past year positioning herself as one of the faces of women’s basketball, even going so far as to say, “The reason we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person… it’s because of me too.” She’s landed major endorsements, built a massive social media following, and repeatedly claimed to be a generational draw for the sport. So why couldn’t she fill half the seats in her own backyard, especially when tickets were as cheap as $11?

The attendance issue didn’t go unnoticed. Social media lit up with fans posting photos of the empty arena and questioning Reese’s supposed star power. Many pointed out that during her LSU days, the building was always packed—so what changed? Some suggested that many of Reese’s followers are more interested in her off-court persona than her actual basketball game, and the numbers seemed to support that claim. The narrative that people are “watching for me too” quickly unraveled as the empty seats told a different story.

The situation was made even more awkward by the response from Reese’s mother. Rather than addressing the disappointing turnout, she took to Twitter to deflect criticism, pointing out LSU’s championship banners and taking a veiled shot at Caitlin Clark’s fanbase. “That certain fan base looking in the stands celebrating attendance while others are looking up in the rafters celebrating championship banners. We ain’t the same,” she wrote. The attempt to change the subject only fueled more debate, with critics quick to note that college accomplishments don’t automatically translate to pro-level marketability.

Meanwhile, Reese faces a new challenge on the court as well. Chicago Sky’s new head coach, Tyler Marsh, is reimagining her role—moving her away from her comfort zone in the paint and asking her to play more on the perimeter as a “stretch four.” This is a significant shift for a player whose game has always revolved around rebounding and putbacks. The problem? Reese’s shooting numbers don’t inspire confidence. Last season, she ranked 30th in two-point percentage (just 40%), 29th in three-point percentage (18.8%), and dead last in effective field goal percentage among WNBA players with significant minutes. Even at the rim, she converted just 39.1% of her shots—worst in the league for her position.

These changes could make it even harder for Reese to replicate the double-double stats that defined her college and rookie seasons. With the Sky betting on Camila Cardoso as their primary interior threat, Reese will have fewer opportunities for offensive rebounds and putbacks. If she can’t adapt her game and improve her efficiency, the gap between her reputation and her actual impact on the court may only grow wider.

All of this stands in stark contrast to Caitlin Clark, Reese’s rival from the 2024 draft class. While Reese struggled to fill half of LSU’s arena with $11 tickets, Clark’s return to Iowa for a Fever preseason game sold out in minutes, with average ticket prices soaring above $400. Clark’s games regularly draw record TV audiences, and her jersey became the bestselling rookie jersey in WNBA history before she even played a professional game. She doesn’t need to boast about her drawing power—the numbers speak for themselves.

Clark’s marketability is so significant that teams are moving games to larger NBA arenas just to accommodate the demand. She’s changed the economic landscape of the WNBA, and her impact is felt nationwide. Meanwhile, Reese’s claims about being a major draw have been put to the test, and the results have been humbling.

The empty seats in Baton Rouge raise important questions about perception versus reality in women’s basketball. Endorsements and social media followers are one thing; putting fans in seats is another. As the Sky shift Reese’s role and her college glory fades into the rearview, she faces a crossroads. Will she adapt her game and find new ways to contribute, or continue to chase a spotlight that fans may not be willing to give her?

In the end, the numbers don’t lie. Angel Reese’s homecoming was anything but a sellout, and her journey to true WNBA stardom is far from guaranteed. As the league’s landscape shifts, only those who deliver—on and off the court—will truly command the spotlight.