Angel Reese has been riding some highs as she still believes that she’s the face of the WNBA. During All-Star weekend, one of her dreams came true when Mattel revealed its Reese Barbie doll. On top of that, she commented on her legacy status after the reveal.
“I remember, I think it’s been three years now, since the Bayou Barbie came about when I was in Baton Rouge, and I used to put Barbie stuff on merch and stuff, and I wasn’t really supposed to. So, I told them I really wanted to have a Barbie doll one day, and to have Barbie is like, you got to be iconic.”
While the representation is a huge step for the league as a whole, it seems to fuel Reese’s belief that people are watching the WNBA for her. Her claim to being the star of the game has been going viral since the 2025 season, and she even has pros like Shaquille O’Neal backing her. In fact, she was one of the athletes chosen to appear on the cover of NBA 2K26. Clearly, she pulls in attention, but after looking at some stats during the All-Star game, it might not be for her skill.
Advertisement
Angel Reese’s All-Star Appearance Wasn’t What She Wanted
Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Team Coop forward Angel Reese (5) handles the ball in the first half against Team Spoon during the 2026 WNBA All Star Game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
It’s an honor to be chosen for an All-Star team, but Reese was disappointed in the league for the way they chose athletes. All-Star starters were chosen by a mix of fan, media, and player votes, but no players from the Atlanta Dream were chosen. In fact, only three players were chosen as reserves: Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Angel Reese.
According to Reese, this was ‘disrespectful’ and ‘a slap in the face, ‘ but the players chosen to be starters hold impressive records. Caitlin Clark was one of the captains, and she recently broke an Indiana Fever record by being the first player to record 40 points and 10 assists. On top of that, she consistently helps her team break viewership records as Indiana Fever games bring in over a million viewers.
Advertisement
On the other team, Paige Bueckers is the first player in WNBA history to record over 20 points, over six assists, and over four rebounds per game in back-to-back seasons. Jonquel Jones made history by being the first WNBA player to win MVP, Finals MVP, Commissioner’s Cup MVP, and All-Star MVP. Reese, on the other hand, not only got stuck playing as a reserve, but she ended up with the second-least amount of play time and the worst stats.
Angel Reese’s All-Star Stats Were Lacking
Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Team Coop forward Angel Reese (5) looks on in the first quarter against Team Spoon during the 2026 WNBA All Star Game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Reese holds the season record for the most single-season rebounds, but many would criticize this by pointing out how many were from her own missed shots. With a field goal percentage of 42.5 percent in the regular season, she is sitting just under the WNBA average, which is 43.3 percent.
Advertisement
When we look at her All-Star game statistics, Reese left a lot to be desired. With only nine minutes of game time, she only recorded five rebounds, four assists, and missed her single field goal attempt. Compared to the other players that she’s claimed to be better than, she fell to the wayside as Caitlin Clark, Jonquel Jones, and Marina Mabrey stole the show. In fact, the only player with less time on the court was Aliyah Boston. Boston played just under five minutes, and she managed one rebound while missing a three-point attempt.
End Of My Angel Reese Rant
It’s hard to justify Angel Reese being the face of the WNBA when her statistics, teammate chemistry, and public opinion are so low. While her feud with Caitlin Clark has done wonders for drawing in a bigger viewership for the sport, other players contribute more skill and passion. With the WNBA still working on maintaining a consistent viewership level, they want to put their best players front and center. Reese’s lack of game time and reaction to the WNBA’s choices seem to prove that she’s the only one holding herself in high regard.
The post Why The 2026 All-Star Game Proved Angel Reese Definitely Isn’t The Face Of The WNBA appeared first on Stadium Rant.
