{"id":902954,"date":"2026-09-20T14:08:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T14:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/902954\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T14:08:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T14:08:10","slug":"atlanta-dream-head-coach-claims-angel-reese-deserves-wnba-award-over-aja-wilson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/902954\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta Dream head coach claims Angel Reese ‘deserves’ WNBA award over A’ja Wilson"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko believes Angel Reese should be in contention for a prestigious WNBA award. Smesko\u2019s comments came before Reese put up 23 points and 10 rebounds in the Dream\u2019s 106-81 victory over her former team, the Chicago Sky.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Breanna Stewart took home her second FIBA Women’s World Cup MVP as Team USA claimed fifth straight title\u00a0 \u2013 was she your pick, or should someone else have won? \ud83e\udd14 <\/p>\n

She was named MVP back in 2018 as well.<\/p>\n

MVP STEWWWW \ud83d\ude0e<\/p>\n

Breanna Stewart was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup! She led @usabasketball<\/a> to the championship with a dominant win over France, 97-79.<\/p>\n

Stewie marked a 22 PT and 10 REB double-double along with 4 AST, in her fourth\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/fIAtcMTwO4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 WNBA (@WNBA) September 13, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

View X<\/p>\n

Atlanta Dream coach says Angel Reese \u2018deserves\u2019 WNBA DPOY award<\/p>\n

Karl Smesko dismissed the idea that Angel Reese\u2019s<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s gotta be case closed, right? She has to be All-Defensive Team,\u201d Smesko said in his pre-game press conference on Saturday. \u201cI think the question is whether she\u2019ll be Defensive Player of the Year. I think she has a very strong case in a lot of the advanced metrics and deserves it. <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom 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. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf people look into the numbers, the plays they make, and how good our defense is when they\u2019re 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\u2019s case is as good as anyone\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Las Vegas Aces star A\u2019ja Wilson<\/a> won the DPOY award for the third time last season, sharing it with the Minnesota Lynx\u2019s Alanna Smith. Wilson is among the leading contenders to win the award again this season, alongside Gabby Williams and Shakira Austin.<\/p>\n

However, Smesko insists the advanced statistics are in Reese\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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