Follow us on Google Discover Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko believes Angel Reese should be in contention for a prestigious WNBA award. Smesko’s comments came before Reese put up 23 points and 10 rebounds in the Dream’s 106-81 victory over her former team, the Chicago Sky.
Reese also made history in the Dream-Sky game as the first WNBA player to reach 500 rebounds in a single season. And her 2026 season would become even more historic if the award voters listen to her head coach.
She was named MVP back in 2018 as well.
MVP STEWWWW 😎
Breanna Stewart was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup! She led @usabasketball to the championship with a dominant win over France, 97-79.
Stewie marked a 22 PT and 10 REB double-double along with 4 AST, in her fourth… pic.twitter.com/fIAtcMTwO4
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 13, 2026
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Atlanta Dream coach says Angel Reese ‘deserves’ WNBA DPOY award
Karl Smesko dismissed the idea that Angel Reese’s place on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team is not guaranteed. Instead, he claimed the only debate should be whether she wins the Defensive Player of the Year award.
“That’s gotta be case closed, right? She has to be All-Defensive Team,” Smesko said in his pre-game press conference on Saturday. “I think the question is whether she’ll be Defensive Player of the Year. I think she has a very strong case in a lot of the advanced metrics and deserves it.
“From the defensive metrics, we have multiple players who should be on the All-Defensive Team. Rhyne [Howard] should be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year as well. Jordin Canada should be on the team.
“If people look into the numbers, the plays they make, and how good our defense is when they’re on the floor, hopefully all three will be on the team, and somebody with an Atlanta Dream uniform will be the Defensive Player of the Year. Right now, I think Angel’s case is as good as anyone’s.”
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson won the DPOY award for the third time last season, sharing it with the Minnesota Lynx’s Alanna Smith. Wilson is among the leading contenders to win the award again this season, alongside Gabby Williams and Shakira Austin.
However, Smesko insists the advanced statistics are in Reese’s favour. The Dream have a defensive rating of just over 100 when the power forward is on the court and it rises to over 115 when she is on the bench.
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