The Atlanta Dream set a single-season franchise wins record last season. They brought back their core, traded for Angel Reese and, despite a midsummer hiccup, still are tied for the fourth-best record in the WNBA. Reese leads the league in rebounding (11.7 rebounds per game). Rhyne Howard (18.9 points per game) and Allisha Gray (18.3 points per game) are each top-12 scorers.
Not one of those three were named an All-Star starter on Thursday. In fact, the Dream didn't account for one of the 10 selected, a development Reese called "disrespectful" on Thursday. She was especially frustrated that Howard and Gray were omitted from a pool that features the Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, the Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson, the Dallas Wings' Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard, the Minnesota Lynx's Natasha Howard and Olivia Miles, the Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams and the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart.
"I expect to be disrespected," Reese said, per ESPN. "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 — he 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. I am."
Reese, Howard and Gray were among the biggest snubs in a dubious voting process that's facing scrutiny after ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported Thursday night that only about 85 of the WNBA's roughly 180 players submitted ballots for starters ahead of the July 25 exhibition at Chicago's United Center.
Not one of those three were named an All-Star starter on Thursday. In fact, the Dream didn't account for one of the 10 selected, a development Reese called "disrespectful" on Thursday. She was especially frustrated that Howard and Gray were omitted from a pool that features the Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, the Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson, the Dallas Wings' Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard, the Minnesota Lynx's Natasha Howard and Olivia Miles, the Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams and the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart.
"I expect to be disrespected," Reese said, per ESPN. "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 — he 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. I am."
Reese, Howard and Gray were among the biggest snubs in a dubious voting process that's facing scrutiny after ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported Thursday night that only about 85 of the WNBA's roughly 180 players submitted ballots for starters ahead of the July 25 exhibition at Chicago's United Center.
4 months ago
