Zaksheske favors Wilson and criticizes Reese's voting margin
Dan ZaksheskeOutKick sports reporter writing an opinion column
Zaksheske calls Wilson the best defender and disputes the size of Reese's win.
Responding to
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“the best defender in the WNBA as far as I'm concerned”
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
Zaksheske favors Wilson and criticizes the vote.
Before the quotation
Zaksheske discusses the official tally and the cases for Wilson and Williams.
After the quotation
He accepts that Reese deserved consideration but alleges that media coverage drove the lopsided result.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Zaksheske criticizes Reese's selection and its margin. His claim about media motives is his allegation.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Angel Reese, WNBA, Gabby Williams, A'ja Wilson
More from this case
Read the full caseJones 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
Dalzell calls Reese's award deserved
“Well-deserved Defensive Player of the Year honor for Angel Reese”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Zaksheske favors Wilson and criticizes Reese's voting margin
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/4444-zaksheske-calls-wilson-the-best-defender-and-disputes
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Zaksheske favors Wilson and criticizes Reese's voting margin". First published: 2026-10-02. Last updated: 2026-10-02. https://disputeindex.com/events/4444-zaksheske-calls-wilson-the-best-defender-and-disputes