Angel Reese, once hailed as the next big thing in women’s basketball, just faced a stunning setback—one that’s left fans, critics, and the media all asking the same thing: What went wrong?
Despite being touted as a rising superstar and media darling, the Chicago Sky rookie didn’t just miss the WNBA All-Star starting lineup—she failed to make the list of reserves altogether. And for someone who was once anointed by Forbes as the co-face of the WNBA alongside Caitlin Clark, that omission sends a message louder than any magazine cover ever could.
Reese’s exclusion is no minor oversight. With a whopping 500,000+ fan votes, she still ranked only 13th in total votes—an underwhelming finish compared to Caitlin Clark’s jaw-dropping 1.3 million. Clark, despite facing constant scrutiny and online hate, didn’t need to beg for votes. She let her performance speak—and the fans responded.
Meanwhile, Reese campaigned hard. She posted. She pleaded. She asked fans to “stuff the ballot box.” But when the numbers came in, it was clear: the hype around Angel Reese wasn’t enough to carry her into All-Star territory.
Her stats offer another clue. Averaging 11.3 points and 11.9 rebounds sounds decent—until you factor in her 38.9% shooting from the field and a noticeable drop in rebounding compared to last season. For someone who’s 6’3” and positioned as a dominant force in the paint, those numbers are underwhelming at best. They don’t scream generational talent—they whisper “average starter.”
So how did the most talked-about rookie of the year find herself on the outside looking in?
The truth may be hard for some to accept: followers and fame don’t translate to on-court dominance. Reese’s social media presence is massive. She trends with every press conference, every quote, every outfit. But when it came time for fans, media, and even fellow players to cast their votes, many of them turned away.
And they didn’t just ignore her—they actively chose others. Reese was left off every major media ballot. Even Megan Hall of USA Today—who had previously written glowing praise of Reese’s impact—excluded her completely. That’s not a snub. That’s a reckoning.
The gap between Reese and Clark isn’t just measured in points or rebounds. It’s measured in consistency, leadership, and results. Clark delivers highlight reels and wins. She fills arenas. She’s not just popular—she’s effective.
Reese, on the other hand, has yet to prove she can carry the weight of the hype. Her performances have been erratic, her numbers inconsistent. And when the All-Star ballots were tallied, the basketball community responded with brutal honesty.
Even the media—those who once breathlessly crowned Reese as the league’s next icon—have gone quiet. The same voices that once propped her up have now pivoted toward players who are actually producing. The silence is telling. It’s not just about a few bad games. It’s about a failure to meet the expectations she helped create.
This isn’t to say Angel Reese can’t rebound—pun intended. She’s young. She’s talented. And she still has time to rewrite her narrative. But for now, this All-Star shutout stands as a glaring reminder: in the WNBA, clout doesn’t equal credibility.
The fans have spoken. The players have spoken. The media has spoken. And the verdict is clear—Reese needs to show up, night in and night out, and earn her place not just in the headlines, but on the hardwood.
Because in this league, you don’t get points for trending. You get points for producing.
