Angel Reese Faces All-Star Reality Check as WNBA Players Pick Sides in Caitlin Clark Debate

Angel Reese has spent the last year reshaping what a second-year leap looks like in the WNBA, posting historic numbers, widening her skill set, and leading the Chicago Sky through turbulence with unrelenting poise. But if she expected that effort to guarantee her a spot among the league’s elite, this week delivered a cold dose of clarity. For the first time since her breakout, it’s not a stat sheet that’s defining her—it’s the perception of her from inside the league.

That’s what makes this a reality check. Reese wasn’t edged out by poor performance or injury. She was edged out by her peers. The All-Star starter list is decided in part by the players themselves, and they only ranked Reese 12th among frontcourt options. The same players who watch her dominate the glass and run point-forward sets every night didn’t vote her in. And this wasn’t just a Reese issue: Caitlin Clark, too, was only ninth in the player vote among guards. So what we’re seeing in this year’s All-Star selections isn’t just a talent ranking—it’s a revealing glimpse into where WNBA players stand in the most talked-about dynamic of the league. 

Clark vs. Reese might be a media creation, but the locker rooms just quietly picked sides. The full voting breakdown, released via @wnbagotgame on July 1, showed exactly how that split played out. 

Top Comment by Anonymous

She was not robbed of anything. She has put herself in this position and the consequences are hers to rectify...more

Share your take

Debate

While Reese finished fifth in fan voting, she landed 12th with both players and media, resulting in a 7.75 weighted score. Satou Sabally, who hasn’t suited up for a single game this season, snuck in with a better score of 6.5, thanks to fifth-place finishes from her peers and reporters alike. Veterans like Nneka Ogwumike and Aliyah Boston also received stronger support despite less explosive numbers. And Clark, though a fan favorite and top vote-getter overall, also struggled to gain footing among players. The All-Star formula—50% fan, 25% player, 25% media—left Reese boxed out, and fans weren’t the only ones surprised.

The official All-Star starter list, announced ahead of the July 19 game in Indianapolis, featured the expected headliners: Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier, who will captain their teams after leading fan voting. Joining them are Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Allisha Gray, Paige Bueckers, Nneka Ogwumike, Satou Sabally, and Aliyah Boston. Reese will now look to the July 7 reserve reveal, when the league’s 13 head coaches fill the remaining 12 spots, for a potential second-year All-Star nod.

Angel Reese fans dive into the comment section to deliver unique takes!

As the WNBA All-Star voting results went viral, fans didn’t hesitate to dive into the comment section and voice their disappointment – and honestly, they’ve got a point. “So let me get this straight—Angel Reese’s only real support is her fanbase? Because these players never once came to her defense, and those weak folks they call WNBA media, who act like fan clubs, clearly don’t f— with her. Aight, we see y’all… it’s on sight now,” penned one frustrated user. No doubt, every player named to the All-Star list is deserving, but Angel Reese absolutely deserved a spot, too.

I mean, she’s averaging 12.4 points and a league-high 12.6 rebounds through 16 games, all while showing major strides in her development. And if that’s not convincing enough, consider this: In a recent game against the Sparks, she dropped 11 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Sky seal a critical win.

“Angel Reese leads today’s WNBA standouts,” another user added. And they weren’t wrong. Reese dominated both ends of the floor, coming close to a triple-double of 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists in just 38 minutes of action. And it didn’t stop there. That performance marked her fourth straight game with at least 16 boards, following totals of 17, 18, and 19 in her last three. It was also her fourth consecutive double-double and her 36th in her first 50 career games, putting her in elite company.

Still think that’s not enough? “Angel Reese, this is motivation. Cook these ni—-,” read another comment. Chicago Sky star has become the fastest player in WNBA history to record 150+ rebounds and 50+ assists in a single season. She also notched her first career triple-double, becoming the second-youngest in league history to do so, right behind Caitlin Clark. She now ranks 19th in the league in assists, and second among frontcourt players, just percentage points behind the Sparks’ Dearica Hamby (3.82 to 3.81).

“This graphic says everything! Angel Reese is HER. TF wrong with y’all?! Ain’t NOBODY else in the league doing this!!!” another fan exclaimed. Of course, her growth has come with some challenges. She’s currently second in the league in turnovers, averaging 3.4 per game, only behind Caitlin Clark, who has 5.9. But her development in an on-ball role has been evident, especially over the last eight games, where she’s averaged 14.8 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, while shooting 44.9% from the field. So, when all of this gets ignored in the All-Star voting process, it makes sense why fans are upset.

“Mention up front how the players haven’t voted well for Angel Reese—they only voted her 12th in the All-Star results, and that’s why fans feel betrayed,” wrote another user, pointing out the irony. “They didn’t even vote Caitlin Clark that high—she was 9th!” But the real disappointment lies in the player vote, which accounted for 25% of the total weight and could have drastically changed the outcome. Players had the power to boost Reese into the Top 10, but they didn’t. And that’s why she’s out of the starting lineup… for now.

Still, all hope isn’t lost. The remaining 12 All-Star spots will be selected by the league’s 13 head coaches, with three reserved for guards, five for frontcourt players, and four positionless picks. The reserves will be announced on Sunday, and the captains will draft their teams on July 8. So, what do you think? Will Angel Reese get this spot, at least?