Gibbs favors Williams while recognizing Reese's merit
Lindsay GibbsCBS Sports analyst
Gibbs chooses Williams but calls Reese deserving.
Responding to
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“a very deserving recipient”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Did Angel Reese deserve the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award?
The WNBA named Angel Reese its 2026 Defensive Player of the Year on October 1. She received 46 of 74 votes, ahead of Gabby Williams with 20 and A'ja Wilson with four. Voters defend Reese's impact on Atlanta's defense. Sue Bird and Lindsay Gibbs favor Williams while calling Reese deserving. Dan Zaksheske criticizes the result, and Andrew Jerell Jones argues for a shared Reese and Wilson award.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
The panel records each analyst's preference. Maloney identifies his official ballot. Gonzalez separately says she has no official vote in 2026.
Before the quotation
Gibbs gives her DPOY preference in a panel.
After the quotation
Her assessment leaves room for Reese to merit the honor too.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Gibbs combines approval of Reese's merit with a preference for Williams.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Angel Reese, WNBA, Gabby Williams
More from this case
Read the full caseZaksheske favors Wilson and criticizes Reese's voting margin
“the best defender in the WNBA as far as I'm concerned”Read statement
Jones calls for a shared Reese and Wilson award
“it should have been at least a #WNBA Co-DPOY for A’Ja Wilson and Angel Reese.”Read statement
Falkenheim explains his Reese vote
“I voted for Angel Reese for Defensive Player of the Year.”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Gibbs favors Williams while recognizing Reese's merit
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/4439-gibbs-chooses-williams-but-calls-reese-deserving
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Gibbs favors Williams while recognizing Reese's merit". First published: 2026-10-02. Last updated: 2026-10-02. https://disputeindex.com/events/4439-gibbs-chooses-williams-but-calls-reese-deserving