Angel Reese’s shockingly short WNBA All-Star appearance has simple explanation

Angel Reese returned to Chicago for her third consecutive WNBA All-Star appearance, but fans did not get to see much of the Atlanta Dream star on the court.

Reese played a game-low nine minutes for Team Coop during its 129-122 loss to Team Spoon at the United Center. She finished with zero points, five rebounds and four assists, missing her only field-goal attempt.

The limited playing time immediately raised questions, particularly because Reese was one of the biggest attractions during All-Star Weekend.

However, her short appearance was almost certainly about protecting her health rather than her performance.

Why did Angel Reese play only nine minutes?

Reese entered the All-Star Game less than a week removed from suffering a left leg injury. Her knee buckled while she attempted a layup during Atlanta’s 93-91 victory over the Chicago Sky on July 19. Reese initially returned to her feet before going down again and eventually leaving the game.

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Dream coach Karl Smesko later revealed that Reese wanted to continue playing, but he was uncomfortable putting her back on the court after seeing how much pain she appeared to be experiencing. Reese recovered enough to participate in the All-Star Game, but Team Coop coach Becky Hammon had little reason to push her during an exhibition.

Neither the Dream nor the WNBA officially announced a specific minutes restriction before the game. Still, her nine-minute workload strongly indicated that the plan was to let Reese participate while minimizing the risk of aggravating the injury.

Atlanta does not play again until July 29 against the Dallas Wings, giving Reese additional time to recover before the regular season resumes.

Reese still makes an impact without scoring

Reese did not score, but her final stat line did not tell the complete story. She collected five rebounds and distributed four assists in only nine minutes. Reese also finished with a plus-11 rating, the best mark among Team Coop’s players.

Team Coop outscored Team Spoon by 11 points while Reese was on the court despite eventually losing by seven. Reese’s ability to influence the game without taking shots provided another glimpse of her developing playmaking skills. She created opportunities for teammates, attacked the glass and helped Team Coop play some of its best basketball of the night.

Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 26 points, while Marina Mabrey added 23. Paige Bueckers finished with 12 points and seven assists, and Dominique Malonga made history by becoming the youngest player to dunk in a WNBA All-Star Game.

Team Spoon was led by MVP Jonquel Jones, who recorded 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Olivia Miles nearly delivered a triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Caitlin Clark scored 17 points and made five 3-pointers.

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Atlanta takes no chances with its superstar

Reese entered the break averaging 15.4 points and 11.5 rebounds while leading the WNBA in rebounding and double-doubles. Her production has helped Atlanta reach 16-10 and emerge as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. The Dream’s postseason hopes matter much more than additional All-Star minutes.

Reese was able to return to Chicago, participate in the festivities and extend her streak to three consecutive All-Star appearances. Most importantly, she got through her brief appearance without an obvious setback.

Nine minutes may have disappointed fans, but protecting Reese was the right decision for Atlanta’s bigger picture.

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