Angel Reese DPOY Vote Draws Fan Backlash Over FIBA Reasoning
The short version
- Angel Reese averaged 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 0.74 blocks for the Atlanta Dream this season.
- She ranked first in defensive win shares and fourth in defensive rating; The Athletic named her its DPOY.
- A journalist revealed his DPOY ballot and said Reese's FIBA World Cup title game performance secured his vote.
- Fans criticized using non-WNBA games in league award voting; WNBA awards have not yet been announced.
- The Dream open the playoffs hosting the Washington Mystics on Sunday, September 27 at 7:00 PM EDT on Prime Video.
A sportswriter's admission that Angel Reese's FIBA World Cup showing influenced his WNBA Defensive Player of the Year ballot sparked criticism from fans.
Angel Reese has put together a standout first stretch of WNBA action with the Atlanta Dream, and she enters the postseason regarded as a top candidate for the league's Defensive Player of the Year honor. The official award announcements have not yet been made, but the ballots from sportswriters and broadcasters have already been submitted.
Her offensive production this season included an average of 16.4 points per game, yet it is her work on the defensive end that has drawn the most attention. Reese pulled down 12.1 rebounds per contest while adding 1.8 steals and 0.74 blocks. According to advanced metrics, she finished first across the league in defensive win shares and fourth in defensive rating.
The Athletic has already gone public with its pick, selecting Reese as its Defensive Player of the Year on the strength of those numbers.
The controversy began when one of the voters published his ballot and explained his reasoning. In a reply to a fan who questioned Reese's candidacy, the journalist wrote that her showing in the FIBA World Cup title game was what sealed his decision.
That explanation did not land well with the WNBA audience. League awards are meant to recognize what players do during the WNBA season itself, and the notion that international games could sway a ballot drew pushback. Reese did excel for Team USA at the World Cup, taking on the toughest defensive assignments and anchoring the unit alongside Gabby Williams, who earned DPOY honors at that tournament.
Fans voiced their objections on social media. One supporter of Reese as DPOY wrote that international competition should play no part in judging the WNBA season. Another questioned whether other non-league settings, such as Unrivalled or European club play, might then count as well.
Additional replies took aim at the logic directly. One fan mocked the reasoning by asking whether the NCAA tournament had been weighed for another player, while another suggested that if FIBA results counted, other awards decisions would need to be reconsidered. A Reese supporter countered that her WNBA numbers alone justify the honor.
The discussion around Reese's candidacy is expected to carry on until the league reveals its award winners. In the meantime, her focus shifts to the playoffs, where she will try to help the Dream make an extended run.
Atlanta's next outing comes at home, with the Washington Mystics visiting State Farm Arena on Sunday, September 27 at 7:00 PM EDT. The game airs on Prime Video.
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