Dream Players Omitted from 2026 WNBA All-Star Starting Lineup

On July 2, the WNBA released the ten starters for the 2026 All-Star Game. The lineup featured guards Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles and Kelsey Mitchell, and frontcourt players A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams and Natasha Howard. No member of the Atlanta Dream—forward Angel Reese, guard Rhyne Howard or guard Allisha Gray—was named a starter, despite the Dream’s 12-7 record and fourth-place league standing.

Atlanta Dream stars snubbed as WNBA reveals ASG starters

All-Star starters are chosen by a weighted vote: fan ballots count for 50 % of a player’s score, while media and player ballots each contribute 25 %. The four guards and six frontcourt players with the highest weighted scores become starters.

CBS Sports

• Guard rankings: Howard and Gray placed fifth and sixth among guards in the final weighted tally. Their component rankings were: Howard – 9th in fan voting, 4th in media voting, 2nd in player voting; Gray – 7th in fan voting, 8th in media voting, 6th in player voting.

CBS Sports

• Frontcourt ranking: Reese ranked seventh among frontcourt players in the weighted total. Her component rankings were uniformly sixth in fan, media and player votes.

ESPN

Because only four guard slots are available, the strong media and player support for Howard and Gray was insufficient to overcome their lower fan vote totals.

CBS Sports

Angel Reese publicly described the omission as disrespectful and a “slap in the face” to the Dream’s contributions. She emphasized that the team’s success rests on Howard and Gray’s defensive work and three-point shooting, and she positioned herself as a spokesperson for teammates who “don’t necessarily speak for themselves.” Reese also expressed confidence that the three will still appear in the All-Star Game as reserves and urged Dream fans to rally behind the players.

ESPN

Commentary from analysts highlighted that the voting outcome is mathematically objective, noting that a more balanced guard-forward split would have secured a starter spot for Howard. The same analysis suggested that insufficient fan voting for Dream players contributed to the snub, implying that fan engagement, rather than systemic bias, explains the result. Nonetheless, the Dream’s absence from the starter list has drawn attention from observers who view the omission as surprising given the team’s league-top-seven standing.

Sports Illustrated

Sources differ on the interpretation of the weighted rankings versus individual component rankings. While Howard and Gray are listed as the fifth- and sixth-highest-scoring guards overall, their fan vote positions (9th and 7th) were markedly lower than their media and player vote positions (4th/2nd and 8th/6th). Reese’s consistent sixth-place finish across all three voting groups contrasts with her seventh-place weighted rank, reflecting the impact of the guard-forward slot limits. Detailed vote totals for each player were not disclosed, leaving the precise margin between the Dream players and the selected starters unclear.

CBS Sports

• “I expect to be disrespected,” — Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream forward

ESPN

• “For those two though, I think they work so hard and they put a lot of work in, and the way that they're guarded every game and they [have to] adjust.” — Angel Reese

ESPN

• “Congrats to the ones that were nominated, they were well-deserved,” — Angel Reese

ESPN

• “I haven't really said much this year in the media, because honestly it's been tough for me over the last two years," Reese said.” — Angel Reese

ESPN

• “I know the reason why I'm in Atlanta is because of them.” — Angel Reese

ESPN

Head coaches will select reserves later this week, and all three Dream players are projected to receive reserve invitations. The All-Star Game will be held on July 25 at Chicago’s United Center, with the accompanying 3-Point Contest scheduled for July 24 at Wintrust Arena.

CBS Sports