She was the face of college basketball just over a year ago.
She came into the league with endorsements, headlines, and millions of social media followers.
But now?
Angel Reese won’t be playing in the WNBA All-Star Game.
And according to league insiders, she’s not taking it well.
“She feels disrespected,” one team source said.
“She thought she did enough to earn it. And now she’s watching other rookies—especially Caitlin Clark—get all the glory.”
The story isn’t just about a roster decision.
It’s about a rivalry, a reckoning, and a player at a crossroads.
The Announcement: Reese Left Off, Clark Makes It In
On Tuesday, the WNBA released its official All-Star Game roster.
Among the names:
A’ja Wilson
Breanna Stewart
Nneka Ogwumike
Caitlin Clark
But one glaring omission?
Angel Reese.
Despite being top five in rebounding among rookies, a defensive anchor for the Sky, and one of the most marketable faces in the league—Reese didn’t make the cut.
“She was stunned,” said an agent familiar with the situation.
“She didn’t expect to be left off.”
Fan Reaction: Shock, Support, and… Division
Social media went into meltdown mode:
#AngelReeseSnubbed
#ClarkOverReese
#AllStarControversy
“Say what you want about her attitude—Angel Reese deserved that spot,” one fan posted.
“The league is playing favorites. She’s not ‘safe’ enough for their brand,” another wrote.
But others disagreed.
“She’s no Caitlin Clark. Period,” said one viral tweet.
“Clark’s carried the Fever. Reese’s just carried a vibe.”
Reese’s Response: “I See What This Is”
Reese didn’t stay silent.
In a now-deleted tweet, she wrote:
“I know what this is. Don’t worry. I’m watching too.”
She followed it up with an Instagram story showing her working out, captioned:
“All-Star or not, I’m still that one.”
Later, in a brief interview, she said:
“I can’t control votes. I can only control my effort. And that speaks louder than politics.”
But the tone was unmistakable: hurt, anger, and quiet defiance.
The Caitlin Clark Factor (Again)
Let’s get this out of the way: Caitlin Clark deserves her spot.
She’s:
Top 3 in rookie scoring
Leading the league in assists
Driving record-breaking attendance and ratings
Singlehandedly changing how the sport is marketed
But Reese’s camp—and many fans—feel the comparison is unfairly tilted.
“Clark is getting rewarded for being popular,” one fan said.
“Angel is being punished for being loud.”
And as the “she’s no Caitlin Clark” narrative grows online, so does the tension inside the league.
League Defends the Decision
The WNBA released a statement on the All-Star selection process:
“The All-Star Game is a combination of fan vote, coach input, and performance metrics. We stand by the integrity of the selection.”
But critics say the league knows exactly what it’s doing.
“You can’t push ‘Black culture meets basketball’ one day, and then freeze out the players actually living it the next,” said journalist Jemele Hill.
Chicago Sky Responds: Subtle Support
While the Sky have not issued a formal statement, multiple players posted cryptic messages supporting Reese.
One posted a fire emoji with “#shouldabeenAllStar”
Another wrote, “They know. We know.”
A source within the team told BasketballTopStories:
“The locker room’s tight. They’ve got her back. But yeah—she’s mad. And she’s using it.”
Media Reactions: Divided As Ever
Fox Sports’ Jason Whitlock praised the snub:
“She hasn’t earned it. This isn’t a fashion show—it’s basketball.”
But ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike had a different take:
“You want to build the game? You don’t exclude your loudest fan-generators. Angel brings people in.”
What This Means for Reese
The snub might just light a fire.
Sources close to Reese say she’s now laser-focused on the second half of the season.
“You think she’s animated now? Just wait,” one insider said.
“She’s going to take this personally.”
Reese herself hinted at that in a closing remark to reporters:
“I’m not asking to be liked. I’m asking to be respected.”
What This Means for the League
The WNBA is enjoying unprecedented popularity—but with that comes scrutiny, comparison, and conflict.
The Reese vs. Clark debate isn’t going away.
In fact, it may be the league’s defining narrative this season.
And if the league isn’t careful?
They risk alienating a massive portion of their fanbase that sees Reese as more than a player—they see her as representation.
Final Thoughts: The Spotlight Cuts Both Ways
Angel Reese is young.
She’s loud.
She’s unapologetically herself.
And now? She’s angry.
Whether you agree with the snub or not, one thing is clear:
She won’t be quiet about it. And the league better be ready.
Because sometimes, the most dangerous player…
Is the one with something to prove.
SEE MORE: Skip Bayless offers ‘painfully honest’ analysis of Caitlin Clark shooting slump
© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is in the slump of her life. After scoring a career-best 25 points in the first half of her return game against the New York Liberty on June 1 (32 points on 7/14 three-point shooting overall) and shooting 4/6 from three against the Connecticut Sun, the Iowa product is just 1/23 from deep over her past three games.
Sports personality Skip Bayless has been one of Clark’s biggest supporters dating back to her Iowa days. However, he chose to discuss her slump on Friday.
“I’ve raved and raved and raved about her, but now I’ve got to be honest,” Bayless said. “She is officially into a deep, deep three-point shooting slump. It’s the worst three-point shooting stretch in WNBA history. She’s over three games, one for her last 23 from three. It’s just getting hard to watch.”
Following her 0/6 performance on Tuesday, she missed the Fever’s next game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday with a groin injury. She’ll now miss Friday night’s game against the Dallas Wings.
“Looking at Caitlin’s impact, she has plummeted to 55th of 61 qualified three-point shooters in the WNBA,” Bayless said. “She’s at 29.5%. That is horrendously bad. She is tied for the league lead in assists per game, no surprise there. But, she is running away with the turnover lead. She actually has five more total turnovers than Angel Reese, who is second.”
Even though she’s been in a deep struggle, Clark remains the leading vote-getter for the upcoming WNBA All-Star game. Head coach Stephanie White gave an update on her health Thursday.
“I think it’s very much a day-to-day thing with how she responds to treatment. I stay in my lane and let our strength and conditioning and our athletic training staff do what they do best. But yeah, found out late last night and we’ll treat it day-to-day.”
As noted, Clark will not play in Indiana’s game against the Wings Friday night, making it two in a row. Her absences are starting to pile up for a Fever team that sits at a 7-8 record, good for ninth among all WNBA teams.
“It just seems like great shooters don’t go through these kind of prolonged slumps,” Bayless said. “Even though it’s just three games, it’s devastatingly wrong and bad. I’m sure some of the veteran stars that have criticized her are shrugging and saying ‘told you,’ When they should be rooting like mad for her to snap out of her slump.”
