Angel Reese Says No Dream Players Named WNBA All-Star Starters

Angel Reese said July 2 that it was disrespectful for no Atlanta Dream players to be named starters for the WNBA All-Star Game. The Dream stood at 12-8 and tied for first in the Eastern Conference after an 81-76 loss to the Washington Mystics the previous night. Reese, who leads the league with 11.6 rebounds per game and averages 14.8 points, singled out teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.

Howard ranked 12th in scoring and Gray 13th; both rank among the league's top 3-point shooters. Howard placed fifth and Gray sixth in the guard voting totals that combined 50 percent fan, 25 percent media and 25 percent player ballots. "I expect to be disrespected," Reese said.

"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. For us not to have anyone was just a slap in the face, but they're not going to say anything.

The announced starters were guards Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, and frontcourt players A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams and Natasha Howard. Reese finished seventh among frontcourt players in the weighted vote.

Reese added that she had spoken little to the media this season after difficulties in prior years and wished Dream fans had rallied more strongly behind the team's candidates.