Public disputes involving professional, college and international basketball, including players, teams and leagues.
Published coverage on this page: 1 case · 20 statements. Statements are ordered newest first.
Reese won with 46 of 74 votes. Voters defend her impact on Atlanta's defense. Others favor Williams, question the margin or argue for a shared award with Wilson.
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20 matching statements
Role at the time: OutKick sports reporter writing an opinion column
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“the best defender in the WNBA as far as I'm concerned”
Zaksheske criticizes Reese's selection and its margin. His claim about media motives is his allegation.
Role at the time: Sports journalist and Bleav host
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“it should have been at least a #WNBA Co-DPOY for A’Ja Wilson and Angel Reese.”
Jones supports Reese receiving the honor but rejects a sole-winner outcome.
Role at the time: Sports Illustrated reporter and awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“I voted for Angel Reese for Defensive Player of the Year.”
Relative to selecting Reese, Falkenheim supports the choice. Acknowledging other deserving candidates and the limits of his evaluation does not create a conflicting position.
Role at the time: WNBA writer and awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“Well-deserved Defensive Player of the Year honor for Angel Reese”
Relative to selecting Reese, Dalzell explicitly approves the award. The earlier ballot and later reaction are separate dated developments, although a concise case may display only the later one.
Role at the time: Basketball broadcaster and awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“My vote for DPOY went to Angel Reese”
Relative to selecting Reese, the author approves the result and identifies her supporting ballot. This is a personal voter statement, not an institutional outlet position.
Role at the time: Women's basketball journalist and awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“I selected Angel Reese on my ballot for DPOY.”
Relative to selecting Reese, the reported voting action is an explicit endorsement. It is not straight reporting of the league's result.
Role at the time: Atlanta Dream official team release
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“She was right.”
Atlanta's agreement and evaluation approve Reese's merit, beyond announcing the winner.
Role at the time: CBS Sports journalist and official awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“Ultimately, I went with Reese.”
Maloney reaffirms the same supporting vote in a separate dated article.
Role at the time: Swish Appeal journalist and official awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“she is already the league’s top defender”
Garcia explicitly argues that Reese merits the award.
Role at the time: CBS Sports journalist and official awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“I went with Angel Reese for DPOY”
His stated ballot endorses Reese.
Role at the time: CBS Sports analyst; not an official league voter in 2026
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“I chose Angel Reese”
Her published selection expressly endorses Reese.
Role at the time: CBS Sports analyst
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“a very deserving recipient”
Gibbs combines approval of Reese's merit with a preference for Williams.
Role at the time: Sports host presenting a hypothetical awards ballot
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“And so that's why I have her as my defensive player of the year.”
DeMita explicitly endorses Reese. Her choice is commentary, not an official league ballot.
Role at the time: Retired WNBA player and podcast host
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“Um, but of course, if Angel wins, 100% deserving.”
Bird expresses approval of Reese's merit while favoring Williams, a substantive tension in her award judgment.
Role at the time: The Athletic's institutional editorial account
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“She’s earned The Athletic’s DPOY award”
The outlet expressly judges Reese deserving.
Role at the time: Basketball analyst and podcast host
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“Angel Reese = DPOY.”
Relative to selecting Reese, Duncan states his preferred winner and provides a substantive case for her. The quoted opener is his evaluation, not an embedded speaker's words.
Role at the time: ESPN basketball journalist
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“Voepel: Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream”
Voepel's published selection directly endorses Reese.
Role at the time: Atlanta Dream head coach
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“I think Angel's case is as good as anyone's.”
Smesko endorses Reese's merit for the award.
Role at the time: WNBA writer and awards voter
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“NEW: I'm voting Angel Reese for Defensive Player of the Year, and here's why.”
Relative to selecting Reese, Dalzell expressly endorses that choice through her stated ballot. Her consideration of alternatives does not make the endorsement conditional.
Role at the time: Atlanta Dream official team account
Response to this claim
Angel Reese deserved the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
“Follow the numbers to find your DPOY, All-WNBA, and All-Defense forward.”
The team endorses Reese for DPOY rather than merely reporting a result.
Nekias Duncan is a basketball writer and analyst covering the NBA and WNBA. He co-hosts The Dunker Spot podcast with Steve Jones Jr., discussing teams, players and basketball tactics.
1 case and 1 statement
Michael Voepel is an American sports journalist who has written for ESPN since 1996. He covers the WNBA and women's college basketball and received the Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2022.
1 case and 1 statement
Karl Smesko is an American basketball coach and head coach of the Atlanta Dream. He previously led Florida Gulf Coast University's women's basketball program from 2002 to 2024.
1 case and 1 statement
A'ja Wilson is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA. The former South Carolina player has won WNBA championships and league MVP awards, and has represented the United States at the Olympics.
1 case
Gabby Williams is a French-American professional basketball player for the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA and the French national team. She played college basketball at Connecticut and won Olympic bronze in 2021 and silver in 2024 with France.
1 case
Angel Reese is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. She played college basketball at Maryland and LSU, winning the NCAA championship with LSU in 2023, and began her WNBA career with the Chicago Sky in 2024.
1 case
