Angel Reese Didn’t Just Get Snubbed—What Happened to Her in the All-Star Vote Left Fans Speechless.
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Angel Reese came into the WNBA with the kind of spotlight most rookies could only dream of.
She was a national champion, a viral sensation, and a self-declared face of women’s basketball. Her energy was unmatched, her confidence unquestioned. From the moment she stepped onto the professional stage, the message was clear: this league wasn’t just Caitlin Clark’s story — it was hers too.
But just weeks before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, the votes told a different story.
Not only was Angel Reese left off the starting roster — she barely cracked the top 20 in fan voting.
And suddenly, all the swagger in the world couldn’t shield her from a hard truth:
Hype doesn’t always equal hardware.
The All-Star Snub Heard Around the Internet
When the league released its official 2025 All-Star vote tallies earlier this week, the top names came as no surprise. Caitlin Clark. A’ja Wilson. Aliyah Boston. Breanna Stewart. All dominant performers. All leading their teams. All backed by strong fan support.
But as the scroll continued and names were revealed one by one, fans noticed a glaring omission.
No Angel Reese.
Not in the top 10.
Not in the top 15.
Barely hanging in the top 20.
A player once hailed as the “Bayou Barbie” and crowned a new era’s cultural icon had been left off the court where reputations are solidified — the All-Star court.
What Went Wrong?
The short answer? Production.
Angel Reese’s off-court popularity remains undeniable. Her social media presence is powerful. Her partnerships with major brands keep growing. She remains a household name, even for those who barely follow the WNBA.
But on the court, the numbers tell a less flattering story.
Her points per game are modest at best.
Her field goal percentage is stuck in the 30s.
Her assist numbers are low.
Turnovers? Frequent.
Defense? Inconsistent.
Even her rebounding numbers — a bright spot — come with an asterisk. Critics have pointed out that many of her boards come from her own missed shots. The term “mebounds” began circulating online, a not-so-subtle jab at her efficiency.
From Confidence to Controversy
Weeks before the voting results dropped, Reese made headlines for a bold quote during a postgame interview:
“When you look back 20 years from now, you’ll realize the reason people watch women’s basketball isn’t just because of one person. It’s because of me too.”
At the time, the line seemed powerful. It echoed her unapologetic persona — a woman confident in her impact, unafraid to claim her place in history.
But when the performance didn’t follow the proclamation, the internet was quick to turn. Tweets turned sarcastic. Comment sections filled with criticism.
“She talks like she’s LeBron, but plays like she’s still in preseason,” one post read.
“More Met Gala than mid-range jumper,” said another.
It wasn’t just backlash — it was disappointment. Fans wanted to believe the hype. But what they saw didn’t match what they were sold.
A Tale of Two Rookies: Clark vs. Reese
The comparisons were inevitable from the start. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark were the faces of college basketball’s golden moment. Their rivalry during the NCAA championship ignited debates and drew millions of new viewers. When they both entered the league this year, fans hoped for a continuation of that drama — but also for excellence from both.
And while Clark has faced criticism of her own — for her attitude, for how teams physically defend her — she’s backed it up statistically. Clark currently leads the league in assists, regularly scores in double digits, and hits shots from well beyond the arc. She’s been knocked down, fouled hard, and even bloodied — yet she keeps producing.
Reese, meanwhile, has been noticeably quiet where it matters most: the scoreboard.
The contrast between perception and production has grown sharper. And in a league as competitive as the WNBA, the numbers win.
The Instagram Response — and What Wasn’t Said
After the All-Star snub went viral, Reese did what she often does — she took to social media.
But instead of addressing the performance gap or showing a plan to improve, her posts leaned into vague defiance. One story featured a cryptic quote about “being hated for being pretty.” Another referenced “jealous energy.”
But what was missing stood out more than what was said.
There was no acceptance.
No recognition of her stats.
No vow to step up.
No “I’ve got more to prove.”
And for fans hoping to see growth, it was another missed opportunity.
The Double Standard Debate
Some have rushed to Reese’s defense. They argue she’s being judged more harshly because of her personality, her race, or her refusal to “tone it down.” That her confidence is being labeled arrogance in a way that others never face.
There’s truth in that conversation — and it’s a necessary one.
But at some point, the discussion must return to basketball. Because that’s what All-Star votes are supposed to reflect.
And right now, Reese isn’t earning them on the hardwood.
The Brand vs. the Baller
Reese remains incredibly valuable to the league. Her face is on billboards. Her name trends with ease. She drives engagement.
But All-Star nods aren’t given for engagement. They’re earned for excellence.
There’s a difference between being a star and being an All-Star.
And in 2025, that difference is glaring.
The Path Forward
This doesn’t have to be the end of the Angel Reese story — far from it. Many greats have had rough starts. Many have been humbled early in their careers, only to rise stronger and more focused.
What Reese does next matters more than what she’s said in the past.
She doesn’t need to apologize.
She doesn’t need to change who she is.
She just needs to deliver.
Put up 20 and 10.
Anchor the defense.
Dominate the boards and the scoreboard.
And then — only then — the narrative changes.
Final Word
This isn’t about hating Angel Reese. It’s about the bar she helped set.
She told the world she was the face of the league. That she was “the reason people watch.”
But greatness can’t be declared. It has to be proven.
And right now, fans are waiting. Coaches are watching. The league is listening.
The All-Star votes are in. The message is clear:
It’s time to hoop. Not just talk.
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.”
