Angel Reese's rise with the Atlanta Dream has strengthened her case as one of the WNBA's biggest stars, but former NFL player Emmanuel Acho believes a championship alone won't make her the face of the league.
Caitlin Clark's popularity remains central to that debate in Acho’s view, despite Reese's growing accomplishments, although the 24-year-old’s offensive development has drawn praise from Acho.
Angel Reese lets loose after dominant game helps Atlanta Dream even WNBA Finals
He acknowledged that her improved post game deserves recognition, while making clear that individual growth and winning a title don't automatically settle the question of who represents the league.
“Angel Reese has gotten significantly more offensively competent,” Acho said on Speakeasy. “And it’s undeniable… What Angel Reese is doing now: she has competent post moves that she’s committing to memory… That to me is worthy of praise…
“I’m gonna tell the world when you’re balling, and when you’re not, [there are] going to be conversations. But I don’t think a championship makes her the face.”
The discussion over the league's leading star has largely revolved around Clark and Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson since Clark and Reese entered the WNBA in 2024.
Clark's ability to attract viewers and fill arenas has strengthened her claim, while Wilson's three championships and five MVP awards offer a compelling case based on sustained excellence.
A screenshot shared on X in August added another dimension to the argument. A list of videos from the WNBA's official YouTube channel showed different view counts for game highlights published on the same day.
A video featuring Wilson and the Aces had 19,000 views, while one featuring Reese had 23,000. A highlight featuring Clark and the Indiana Fever attracted 180,000 views, although another Clark highlight at the top of the list had only 15,000.
The figures helped fuel the argument that Clark remains the league's biggest draw, even as Reese's profile has grown.
Reese's social media following has long made her a prominent figure, but her on-court progress has given her additional reasons to be taken seriously in discussions about the WNBA's future.
Reese increases her popularity
Clark’s contributions to Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, where she played a major defensive role in the gold medal victory, further strengthened her standing.
Reese subsequently earned Defensive Player of the Year recognition, adding another major achievement to her growing resume.
Reese's performances in the 2026 WNBA Finals have added weight to the discussion. She scored 27 points as the Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 in Game 2 at Chase Center on Monday, tying the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
Atlanta seized control after the teams were tied 40-40 early in the third quarter, producing a 29-8 run that created a 21-point advantage. Golden State struggled offensively, with Gabby Williams the only starter to reach double figures with 14 points.
The series moves to Atlanta for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 21, at 14:00 ET/17:00 PT.