We are once again asking who are in-game interviews really for? And we’re still waiting for a convincing answer.
Networks are pushing harder than ever to give fans “unprecedented access.” But what happens when the audience doesn’t actually want that kind of access? And what if the coaches don’t want to give it?
Perhaps, unwilling might be too strong a word. But Wednesday night, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t exactly come across as eager. ESPN got its mid-game interview, sure, but it felt more like a formality than anything insightful. Reeve fielded questions from Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo the way a student does when a teacher cold-calls them. She gave just enough to move on.
The truth is, WNBA in-game interviews have become more of a burden than a benefit. Reeve’s performance wasn’t an outlier. We’ve already seen now-former coaches from the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky express their frustrations. Becky Hammon hasn’t hidden hers either. These interviews are a poor fit during high-intensity moments, take a nine-point game in the third quarter against the New York Liberty, for example.
Reeve sat on the bench, tracking her offense while fielding a few soft questions from Ruocco and Lobo. They asked about Courtney Williams’ chemistry with Napheesa Collier. They asked about Williams’ eight first-half assists.
Reeve wasn’t dismissive, but she certainly wasn’t engaged either.
“It’s great.”
“We just need her to be aggressive.”
That was the extent of it. Ruocco thanked her and moved on, which was probably the right call. Reeve had given what she was willing to give.
It’s not on the broadcasters. They’re working with what they’re given. But the concept? The format? That’s the problem. These interviews rarely offer anything meaningful, especially in the second half of a close game. They exist because someone, somewhere, decided they’d create a sense of intimacy and access. Instead, they create awkwardness and dead air.
If the goal is to enhance the broadcast, this isn’t it. Let the coaches coach. Let the game breathe. And maybe find a better way to bring the audience closer without putting people in positions they clearly don’t want to be in.
Because right now, nobody’s getting what they want.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.