The WNBA playoffs are finally here, and TV show host Rachel DeMita said she has her eyes on Angel Reese.
Reese has been the topic of many conversations over the last several weeks. Chatter about her possibly becoming this year’s Defensive Player of the Year began after her impressive performance at the FIBA World Cup. Shortly after, Reese earned her third consecutive Eastern Conference Player of the Week award.
According to DeMita, this is Angel Reese’s time to shine, and she credits the LSU alum as one of the names who have changed the game for good.
TV Host Praises Angel Reese Ahead Of WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA awards will be released over the next several days, and all eyes will be glued to league media to see who emerges victorious as this year’s Defensive Player of the Year. DeMita, however, believes Reese has it on lock.
“With Angel Reese, she’s leading the league in rebounds. She gets steals, she gets blocks, and the thing with Angel is, like we have seen so many times even throughout this season, she’s a great isolation defender as well. Not only on a post player, but also on a guard. Like, we have seen her get stuck on a guard and slap the floor and be ready to guard them, and she’s gotten steals off of that,” she said.
DeMita Says Angel Reese Changes The ‘Landscape’ Of The Women’s Game
DeMita didn’t stop there. The media personality continued to praise Reese not only for her on-court ability, but also for how she’s helped draw even more attention to the growing league.
“We see her on the fast break getting steals. Like, I think Angel’s been great defensively, and she changes the landscape of the game when she is in the game. And so that’s why I have her as my Defensive Player of the Year,” said DeMita.
Atlanta Dream Coach Says DPOY Award Should Go To Angel Reese
DeMita isn’t the only one pulling for Reese to become this year’s DPOY. The Atlanta Dream‘s head coach, Karl Smesko, shared a similar statement while speaking to the media ahead of his team’s Round 1 matchup against the Washington Mystics.
“That’s gotta be case closed, right? She has to be All-Defensive Team,” he said. “I think the question is whether she’ll be Defensive Player of the Year. I think she has a very strong case in a lot of the advanced metrics and deserves it.”
Continuing, Smesko said that if it doesn’t go to Reese, several other players on the Dream’s roster are frontrunners for the title.
“From the defensive metrics, we have multiple players who should be on the All-Defensive Team. Rhyne [Howard] should be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year as well. Jordin Canada should be on the team,” he said.
Reese Says The Defensive Awards Should Go To Atlanta
“When I said the Defensive Player of the Year is in Atlanta, I meant what I said.”
—@Reese10Angel on the Defensive Player of the Year race 👀 https://t.co/lElNPX0c3w
— espnW (@espnW) September 24, 2026
Reese knows the Dream’s defense has been elite throughout the season, which is why she told the media earlier this year that the coveted DPOY award had to go to a player in Atlanta.
She echoed that statement earlier this week while speaking with ESPN, saying, “When I said the Defensive Player of the Year is in Atlanta? I meant what I said.”
Reese is ranked 3rd in steals in the league, 4th in defensive rebounds, and has a defensive rating of 100.0. Her quick hands and fiery demeanor have fueled her throughout the year, she said.
“Those are energy plays that I love, and that’s something I like to bring every single night for my team. My team allows me to be aggressive,” she said. “Obviously, our team is really good defensively.”
Reese Is Ready For The Playoffs
After returning to the US from the FIBA World Cup, Reese finished her last four games averaging 19.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
According to The Blast, she spoke with the media about her performance and said it previewed what people could expect from her in the coming weeks.
“I gotta leave a taste in everybody’s mouth of what the playoffs are gonna look like, so it was only right for me to set the tone,” she said. “I’m really excited,” she added. “We got three more games, but I’m looking forward to round one.”
