Angel Reese explains her emotional reaction to earning WNBA All-Star Game selection as rookie

Gilbert McGregor

•
Angel Reese explains her emotional reaction to earning WNBA All-Star Game selection as rookie image

Angel Reese's historic start to her rookie season earned her a spot in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

While not completely uncommon in the WNBA, an All-Star appearance as a rookie is no small feat. Just two months into her professional career, Reese has become a walking double-double and leads the WNBA in rebounds per game.

Reese isn't just standing out from her first-year peers. She's standing out from the entire league.

On the day Reese learned she would be playing in the All-Star Game, she scored 12 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in a road win over Atlanta.

After the game, the news of her All-Star selection brought about plenty of wholesome emotion from Reese and the rest of her Sky teammates.

MORE: WNBA All-Star Game unites rivals Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese

Angel Reese reacts to All-Star selection as a rookie

Following an 85-77 win over the Dream, Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon informed Reese that she would be an All-Star. The announcement capped a passionate postgame speech, one which also featured a cameo from Grammy Award-winning artist Monica.

"Hold on, one last thing," Weatherspoon said as the huddle broke. "One last thing that we've got to announce really fast: We've got an All-Star in the building! Angel Reese!"

Reese, clearly overcome with emotion, was moved to tears and at a loss for words as her teammates urged her to give a speech. 

After some time to process the news, Reese opened up to the media during her postgame press conference. Her response summed up all that was behind the emotions of the honor.

MORE: Full list of reserves, starters for Team WNBA in 2024 All-Star Game

"We won today, but they just told me I'm an All-Star," Reese said. "I'm just so happy. I know the work that I've put in. Coming into this league, so many people doubted me and didn't think my game would translate and I wouldn't be the player that I was in college — or better or would be worse and wouldn't be where I am right now.

"I trusted the process and I believed — I'm thankful that I dropped to seven and was able to come to Chicago — it's just a blessing, I can't thank my teammates and my coaches enough for just believing and me and trusting me."

Reese was selected by the Sky with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The LSU star's draft stock suffered relative to her collegiate success amid concerns over whether her game would translate to the professional level, but she has proved the doubters wrong in a Rookie of the Year-caliber start to the season.

The 22-year-old Sky forward also shared a celebratory post on X, formerly Twitter, as did LSU coach Kim Mulkey, who won the 2023 NCAA title with Reese.

Reese and the team of 12 WNBA All-Stars will face the U.S. women's national team in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 20, in Phoenix.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.