Angel Reese calls Dream All-Star starter snub disrespectful
As fans follow WNBA games today, Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese said Thursday it was disrespectful that no Dream player was named a 2026 WNBA All-Star starter despite the team's success. Reese called the result a slap in the face while defending guards Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, though she congratulated other nominees.
Key Takeaways
- Reese spoke out Thursday after the WNBA announced 2026 All-Star starters with zero Atlanta Dream representatives.
- She especially defended Howard and Gray, saying the team's success is built on their play every night.
- Guard starters are Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Olivia Miles; six frontcourt players were also named.
- Starters are chosen by fan vote (50%), player vote (25%) and media vote (25%).
- The 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game is set for July 25 at Chicago's United Center.
Why did Angel Reese call the All-Star snub disrespectful?
Reese, a two-time All-Star, said she expected to be disrespected herself but felt Howard and Gray deserved starter recognition. She credited them for Atlanta's turnaround and said she joined the Dream because of their leadership.
"For us not to have anyone was just a slap in the face, but they're not going to say anything. I am," Reese told reporters, according to ESPN.
Reese added that she had stayed quiet in media appearances this season because the past two years had been tough, but felt compelled to speak for teammates who rarely do. She said the nominated players were well deserved while calling it a shocker that a successful Dream squad had no starters.
Who are the 2026 WNBA All-Star starters?
The WNBA named four guard starters and six frontcourt starters for the July 25 showcase in Chicago. Guards Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell will start, while A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams and Natasha Howard fill out the frontcourt.
Bueckers, Wilson, Stewart and Clark headlined the announcement. Bueckers received the most fan votes at 1,045,051, while Wilson and Stewart each earned their eighth career All-Star selections. Clark was voted to her third straight All-Star start.
Indiana placed three Fever players in the starting lineup. Minnesota and Dallas each landed two starters, including rookie Olivia Miles for the Lynx.
How did player voting fuel Caitlin Clark controversy?
Separate from Reese's Dream comments, the starter vote breakdown reignited debate around Clark. Fans ranked the Fever guard second among backcourt players and media members placed her third, but fellow WNBA players ranked her 11th, according to OutKick.
That marked a drop from last season, when players ranked Clark ninth among guards. Despite the split, Clark still made the starting lineup under the weighted formula that gives fans half the ballot and splits the rest between players and media.
OutKick argued the gap showed lingering tension around Clark's star power, while the league's official release focused on her third consecutive start alongside four-time MVP A'ja Wilson and fellow guards Bueckers and Mitchell.
What happens next for the Atlanta Dream?
Reese said she remains confident Howard, Gray and other Dream players will still earn All-Star recognition even without a starting nod. She emphasized that the snub does not erase the work Atlanta has put in this season.
With the All-Star break approaching, Dream supporters will watch whether Reese's public defense shifts any reserve selections. For broader celebrity breaking news around league stars, the starter announcement sets the stage for Chicago on July 25.