The Atlanta Dream haven’t exactly been subtle about their message. With the WNBA regular season approaching its end, the team has decided to make a public push for Angel Reese’s defensive credentials, and WNBA fans were immediately split over the claim.

Ahead of the team’s clash against the New York Liberty on September 21, the Dream’s X account posted a highlight reel for Reese from their previous game against the Chicago Sky, campaigning for her inclusion in the end-of-season awards with an attention-catching message.

“Top two, and she’s not two 🙂‍↔️,” their post read. “Check the box score. Angel Reese for DPOY, All-Defense, and All-WNBA 🅰️.”

Reese finished that game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, her 31st double-double of the season, with the Dream blowing the Sky out 106-81. The 6’4 forward also recorded two steals, three blocks, and four assists to add to the already impressive stat line.

In the DPOY debate, the statistical case for Reese is clear. Beyond averaging 16.6 points per game, Reese also grabs boards at an astounding rate; this season marks her third straight leading the league in rebounds per game, and the highest single-season rebound total in the history of the WNBA, 505.

On top of that, several advanced statistics highlight her defensive impact in more abstract ways. According to the Dream, Reese leads the league in Defensive Win Shares, ranks second in Defensive VPM, and fourth in defensive rating.

However, perhaps the most telling statistic is that Atlanta’s defensive rating improves by 15.1 points with Reese on the floor, which is the largest impact of any single player in the league.

The Dream also pointed out that Reese ranks in the 98th percentile in turnover value, which shows a rare skill set for her position. Despite being a post player, Reese can switch onto the perimeter and step into passing lanes effectively.

However, fans were split about whether Reese was deserving or not of end-of-season honors on social media.

WNBA Fans Are Split on Angel Reese’s DPOY Case

Fans quickly flooded the comments under the Atlanta Dream’s X post with their takes on the Angel Reese prop-up. While some argued she had done enough to win the award, others were a bit more critical of a potential Reese selection.

One particularly supportive fan was immediately behind the campaign and called on their fellow Dream fans to support Reese.

“We will gladly rally around that,” their comment read.

Another highlighted how Reese’s DPOY campaign is backed by stats and not simply hyped for the sake of it.

“One thing about Angel Reese is her hype is not some fake ESPN sponsored bulls***. As Pao Pao said, she’s really that girl,” a fan wrote.

However, many took the opposite approach, with one user pointing at Reese’s raw defensive production, which they found lackluster.

“29th in blocks and second on her own team in steals,” the fan wrote.

A minor correction in that comment: Reese averages 0.8 blocks and 1.8 steals per game, ranking her third, not second, in the Dream, with Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada preceding her in steals.

According to one fan, the highlights the Dream posted to support Reese’s case took away from her being considered for awards.

“Worst team’s and no one blocking her the last 5 games or so,” their comment read.

The Chicago Sky, Reese’s former team, is one of the worst teams in the league, occupying 12th place in the standings after the loss and having the seventh-worst defense.

Regardless, many weren’t interested in reducing Reese’s defense to a single statistic, focusing on what they saw on the court instead of on a spreadsheet.

“Yall mean to tell me you watch her and don’t see a dawg? 😂 yea okay,” one such fan wrote.

Whether Atlanta’s recent push is enough to earn Reese legitimate consideration for the award remains to be seen, but the team has made its position clear; judging by the reaction, fans aren’t nearly as united on her DPOY case.