SouthernWorldwide.com – Angel Reese, the star rookie of the Atlanta Dream, has voiced her strong feelings of disrespect after she and her teammates were overlooked for starting spots in the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game, despite the team’s impressive performance.
The Atlanta Dream currently boast the best record in the Eastern Conference, a testament to their collective effort and talent. However, this success has not translated into any starting nods for their players in this year’s WNBA All-Star Game.
Reese, along with her teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, narrowly missed out on being named starters. While it is highly anticipated that all three will still be selected to participate in the game as reserves, Reese believes this is not enough recognition for their contributions.
Reese openly admitted that she “expects to be disrespected” but felt compelled to speak up on behalf of her teammates, who she feels are often hesitant to voice their own frustrations. She emphasized the crucial role Howard and Gray play in the team’s success.
“For those two though, I think they work so hard and they put a lot of work in, and the way that they’re guarded every game and they [have to] adjust. The reason why we’re where we are is because of those two,” Reese stated passionately. She concluded by calling their exclusion from the starting lineup “a slap in the face.”
The selection process for WNBA All-Star starters involved a point system that weighted votes from fans, media, and players. For frontcourt positions, six players were named starters, with three for each conference. Reese was ranked sixth by all three voting groups individually, but the weighted system placed her seventh overall.
In the guard category, where four starters are selected, Howard and Gray found themselves ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. Howard’s strong performance was recognized by players, who ranked her second among guards. However, fan and media votes placed her ninth and fourth, respectively, impacting her overall standing.
The article also highlights the selection of Caitlin Clark as an All-Star starter, despite her being ranked 11th by her fellow players in the guard position. Clark is currently fifth in the WNBA in scoring with 21.2 points per game and second in assists with 8.2 per game. She is the only player in the league to average over 20 points and eight assists. Her fan and media votes placed her second and third, respectively.
Meanwhile, Angel Reese has been a dominant force in her rookie season with the Dream. She is consistently averaging a double-double, with 14.8 points and a league-leading 11.6 rebounds per game. Her performance underscores the significance of her frustration over the lack of starting recognition.
