Reece Weaver is undoubtedly a fan favorite on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Since Season 1 of America’s Sweethearts, viewers have been impressed by her sweet soul, humility, and dedication to her team. Her relationship with her husband and their documented wedding were a joy to watch amidst the mayhem of her life as a DCC. In Season 3, Reece had a major decision to make – one that will leave fans heartbroken, but understanding.
The third season presented unique challenges, which the Netflix documentary series is transparent about. The “Netflix effect” has brought monumental changes to the way the DCC operates. With “influencer culture” taking hold, the cheerleaders have had to shoulder the immense pressure of fame, fortune, and lucrative sponsorship deals. For better or worse, it has changed things forever, and Kelli and Judy recognize this from the very start of the season.
Reece is no stranger to social media, and she is seemingly proud of her following and the success of the videos she posts online with her husband. However, for some people, there is a limit to exposure. Reece is quietly vocal in Season 3 about how much things have changed since DCC went global on Netflix. I believe this is the reason that Reece retired from DCC after three successful seasons.
Of course, Reece’s exact reasons for leaving DCC remain partially speculative, but she alludes to them somberly throughout Season 3. There is an underlying implication that the constant public attention is overwhelming and undesirable, especially for her and her husband. In one episode, Reece and her husband make it clear that they want to head back to Alabama, declaring themselves “small-town” people. This is the impression I’ve had of them from the beginning – that Reece and her husband have plans outside of Netflix and cheerleading fame, and that they desire a peaceful life with a different purpose. Reading between the lines, it seems Reece felt her marriage couldn’t truly begin after her wedding day due to the demands of her life with DCC.
It is also important to note that Reece is a devout Christian. She believes she was given a God-given gift for dance, which she has used to spread a positive message through DCC, impacting both the community and her fans. In Season 3, while already feeling overwhelmed by the DCC schedule and the skyrocketing nature of the fandom since Netflix got involved, she suffers a rare ankle sprain during training.
Reece is sidelined for a short while, but she desperately seeks a return to the squad, undergoing rehab sessions while continuing to support her teammates. Reece is clearly heartbroken – especially with the Dallas Cowboys having a lackluster season, meaning her chance for a grand send-off is at risk.
Though Reece manages to return to the team in some capacity near the end of the season, it is clear by then that her mind is made up; the ankle sprain was a sign for her. Within the confines of her faith, she asked herself: did she have any further purpose left to serve with the DCC?
While it is sad that Reece Weaver has left the cheerleading squad, she sends a salient message to the audience and the cheerleaders – one that I think Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell truly appreciated: leave while you are on top. Leave before you compromise your character. Reece made it clear that after three seasons, her purpose lies somewhere new, with her husband, in a life away from the global spotlight.
Reece Weaver made a hard decision in Season 3 of America’s Sweethearts, which I can only respect. A massive hole is left in both the DCC and the Netflix series, and America’s Sweethearts will not feel the same now that it is battling the aggressive world of social media. It is hard to believe there will ever be another Reece.
