A disappointed Angel Reese spoke out on behalf of her teammates Thursday, saying it was “disrespectful” that no one from the Atlanta Dream was selected as a starter for the WNBA All-Star Game.
The Dream (12-8) are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference standings after Thursday night’s 81-76 loss to the host Washington Mystics and are in fifth place overall, just 3.5 games out of first place.
Reese, a two-time All-Star, was especially upset with veteran Dream guards Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
“I expect to be treated with disrespect,” Reese said. “For those two, I think they work so hard and put in a lot of work, and the way they get guarded every game, they (have to) adjust. The reason we are where we are is because of these two.”
“For us, not having anyone was just a slap in the face, but they won’t say anything. I speak”.
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Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were announced as starters at guard, while Aja Wilson, Brianna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams and Natasha Howard earned accolades in the frontcourt.
All-Star participants are determined by voting by fans, media and players. Fan votes made up 50% of each player’s weighted score, while media and player votes made up 25% each. The top four defensive players and six frontcourt players were named starters.
Howard and Gray finished fifth and sixth among guards; Reese was seventh among frontcourt players.
Howard and Gray came into Thursday ranked 12th and 13th in the league in scoring, respectively, and both are the best three-point shooters in the game. Reese noted that Howard and Dream guard Jordyn Canada finished first and second, respectively, in steals per game.
Reese entered the day leading the league in rebounds (11.6) and 24th in scoring (14.8) and was one of two players to average a double-double, along with Shepard, who was selected as a starter. Gray and Reese ranked 9th and 10th in defensive win shares, with Canada (12th) and Howard (16th) not far behind.
The Dream’s Angel Reese (5) finished seventh in votes among frontcourt players, while Allisha Gray (left) and Rhyne Howard finished fifth and sixth, respectively, among guards. The team’s top four defensemen and six top frontcourt players were named to the starting lineup. Images requested by Jordan Godfrey-Imagn
“Congratulations to the nominees, they are well deserved,” Reese said. “But it’s a big shock to see that none of us were in the starting XI, especially in the league we’re in as a team.”
“I’m confident we’ll still be All-Stars. “I have no doubt that will happen, but I think it’s important to note that none of us were starters on the team that had so much success this year.”
Howard was voted No. 9 among quarterbacks by fans, No. 4 by media, and No. 2 by players. Gray was No. 7 among defensemen in fan voting, No. 8 in media voting and No. 6 in player voting.
Reese was ranked 6th by fans, media and players.
Compared to the Indiana Fever’s starting trio, Clark was second and Mitchell third among defensemen in fan voting, while Boston was first among frontcourt players.
Reese said she wishes Dream fans would be more supportive of their players.
“I haven’t really spoken to the media this year because, frankly, I’ve had a hard time the last two years,” Reese said. “But I feel like it was important for me to speak up for my teammates who don’t necessarily always speak for themselves.
“I know the work they did. I know the reason I’m in Atlanta is because of them. I know the team’s success is also based on these two.”