Atlanta validates Reese's defensive award campaign
Atlanta DreamAtlanta Dream official team release
Atlanta endorses Reese's win and praises her first season with the team.
Responding to
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“She was right.”
Official statement
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
Official statement
About this source
Atlanta's release recalls Reese's earlier prediction that the award winner was in Atlanta, then says she was right.
Before the quotation
The release recalls Reese saying the Defensive Player of the Year was in Atlanta.
After the quotation
The team agrees with that prediction and describes her defensive contributions.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Atlanta's agreement and evaluation approve Reese's merit, beyond announcing the winner.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Angel Reese, WNBA
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
- Atlanta validates Reese's defensive award campaign
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/4447-atlanta-endorses-reese-s-win-and-praises-her
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Atlanta validates Reese's defensive award campaign". First published: 2026-10-02. Last updated: 2026-10-02. https://disputeindex.com/events/4447-atlanta-endorses-reese-s-win-and-praises-her