In a recent WNBA All-Star Game starter announcement, Angel Reese voiced strong disapproval regarding the absence of her Atlanta Dream teammates, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, from the initial selections. She characterized this omission, along with other Dream players, as "disrespectful," especially considering the team's impressive standing at the top of the Eastern Conference. Reese's comments highlight a broader discussion about player recognition within the league and the perceived undervaluation of team success in individual accolades.
The league's method for determining All-Star starters involves a weighted evaluation: 50% from fan votes, 25% from player votes, and 25% from media votes. This system often leads to discrepancies between public popularity, peer recognition, and expert opinion. For instance, Rhyne Howard performed well in both media and player voting but lagged significantly in fan voting, ultimately costing her a starting spot. Allisha Gray also faced similar challenges, with her fan vote ranking being moderate, but not enough to overcome lower rankings from media and players. Reese herself, despite strong individual statistics, found herself consistently ranked sixth across all voting categories, just outside the starting five.
Reese further emphasized her team's collective achievements by citing several key statistical categories where Dream players excel. She currently leads the league in rebounds per game, averaging 11.6. Howard demonstrates her defensive prowess by leading the league in steals per game with 2.5 and ranks second in three-pointers made per game at 3.2. Additionally, guard Jordin Canada stands second in the league for steals per game, accumulating 2.1. These statistics, Reese argued, underscore the Atlanta Dream's dominant position and make the lack of All-Star recognition for its players even more perplexing. The team's collective performance, she believes, is not adequately reflected in the individual honors, sending a clear message that their efforts are being overlooked.
The announcement of All-Star guards included Olivia Miles, Paige Bueckers, Kelsey Mitchell, and Caitlin Clark. For the frontcourt, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams, and Natasha Howard were named starters. The Dream's backcourt duo, Howard and Gray, narrowly missed being selected, ranking fifth and sixth among guards respectively. Reese, as a frontcourt player, was the first player excluded, ranking seventh overall. While congratulating those who were selected, Reese expressed significant surprise that no players from the Atlanta Dream, a top-tier team, were chosen as starters. She underlined the irony of teams with fewer wins having multiple starters, such as the Indiana Fever, who despite an 11-8 record, saw both Mitchell and Clark named starters, while the Toronto Tempo, with two players averaging over 20 points, had no starters.
Reese, now in her third WNBA season and her first with the Dream, has been an All-Star in every prior season, including as a rookie starter. Howard and Gray are both three-time All-Stars themselves. Reese stated that her decision to speak out, despite generally maintaining a lower media profile over the past two years, was driven by a sense of responsibility to advocate for her teammates who might not always speak for themselves. She underscored her personal connection to her teammates' hard work and contributions, acknowledging that their efforts are fundamental to the team's current success and her own presence in Atlanta. The perceived slight against the Dream's deserving players calls into question the fairness and transparency of the All-Star selection process.
