Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark (Photos via Imagn Images)
Angel Reese has likely come to the realization that she may have misjudged her influence on WNBA affairs, as the ratings tell a different story in Caitlin Clark’s absence.

Clark is undoubtedly the biggest draw in women’s basketball at the moment, so WNBA ratings ha dropped following an injury that has ruled her out for more than two weeks.

The WNBA had experienced a significant uptick since the point guard was selected as the No. 1 overall pick last year, but Reese claimed she was also part of the attraction as she argued that Clark was not solely responsible for the improved ratings.

“We got celebrities coming to games. Sold out arenas…The reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of 1 person. It’s because of me, too. I want y’all to realize that,” she said last year.

WNBA And Fever Games Take A Hit Following Caitlin Clark’s Injury

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark (Photo via Imagn Images)
It does appear that Angel Reese was not entirely correct, as the data suggests otherwise. According to Nielsen (H/T USA Today), WNBA viewership is down 55 percent since Clark stopped playing.

The Indiana Fever star has missed five games since suffering a quad injury in a game against the New York Liberty on May 24.

Nationally televised Fever games are down 54 percent. The average viewership was at 1,810,000 before she was injured and has dropped to 847,000 since she got sidelined.

Clark’s involvement earlier in the season saw to sold-out arenas and record-breaking television ratings, but the appeal has left with her.

The dip in ratings has exposed how much the WNBA relies on Caitlin Clark as a draw. Fortunately, she should not be out for that much longer, but the league would benefit from developing other marketable players to avoid such drastic changes whenever she is out.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’