WNBA All-Star weekend clouded by
injuries to Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese
[July 21, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) — It was a rough week for WNBA All-Stars heading into
the game this weekend.
Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese both were injured Sunday. Bueckers
had a rough collision with Nneka Ogwumike in the fourth quarter of
Dallas' game against Los Angeles. The second-year star guard won't
play Monday night against New York, but cleared concussion protocol
the team said.
Reese's knee buckled as she jump-stopped at the basket in a win over
Chicago. She fell to the ground. Reese got up quickly, but went down
again after a few seconds. She went back to the bench but didn’t
return. The Dream are off now through the All-Star break and Reese
was voted a reserve for the team by the league’s coaches.
Reese is leading the league with 11.8 rebounds per game and 14
double-doubles. She’s averaging 14.9 points.
If either can't play in the exhibition game in Chicago on Saturday,
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will name a replacement. Kelsey
Plum is another player that would potentially need an injury
replacement as she's been out with a lower leg injury that's
sidelined her for nearly a month.
Power poll rankings
The Golden State Valkyries remained the No. 1 team in the power
poll, increasing their winning streak to nine straight. Minnesota
was second with Dallas, Las Vegas and Indiana next. Atlanta moved up
to sixth, switching places with New York. Washington, Chicago and
Portland followed the Liberty. Toronto was 11th and Los Angeles
12th. Connecticut climbed two places to 13th with Phoenix and
Seattle rounding out the poll.
Player of the week
Caitlin Clark of Indiana was the AP player of the week. She averaged
25 points, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals to help the Fever go 2-1 last
week. Clark became the first person in league history to have a
40-plus point game to go along with 10 assists in a win over
Seattle. Other players receiving votes included her teammate Kelsey
Mitchell of Indiana, Olivia Miles of Minnesota, Allisha Gray of
Atlanta and Gabby Williams of Golden State.
[to top of second column] |
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) holds her head after a
collision with Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike during the
second half of a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, July 19, 2026, in
Arlington, Texas. (Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
Moving on
Reese accepted Toronto coach Sandy Brondello's apology for an
inappropriate comment that got the Tempo coach suspended for a game.
The WNBA suspended Brondello one game for being overheard calling
Reese a “protected species” during the Dream’s 111-92 win over the
Tempo on Friday.
“First, I appreciate Sandy’s apology, but I also appreciate the love
and support that I’ve had for the last 48 hours,” Reese said before
the Dream played the Chicago Sky on Sunday. “It has been very
overwhelming with a lot of love and also other things. But I am
grateful that the league did take action.”
Brondello’s comment about Reese was picked up by the broadcast after
Toronto player Nyara Sabally went down with an injury and was called
for a foul following contact with Reese.
Game of the week
Las Vegas at Washington, Wednesday. The Aces finish off the first
part of the season and a two-game road trip with a visit to
Washington to face the Mystics.
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