‘There’s No Hate’ – WNBA Legend Candace Parker Admits She ‘Was Wrong’ About Her Controversial Angel Reese Ranking

October 13, 2026

WNBA star Angel Reese has silenced critics with a historic 2026 season, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and leading the Atlanta Dream to their first Finals appearance since 2013. Reese shattered multiple league records, including 521 rebounds (the first player to hit 500 in a season), 206 offensive rebounds, and 32 double-doubles, while averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game.

Her dominance extended to the postseason, where she averaged 21 points across three wins over the New York Liberty in the semifinals, securing Atlanta’s Finals berth with a 85-83 victory at Barclays Center. Reese’s rise has prompted a rare admission from Hall of Famer Candace Parker, who previously ranked her in the C tier of current WNBA players.

Parker, now a Prime Video analyst, acknowledged her mistake, calling Reese ‘dominant’ and crediting her Finals run and Defensive Player of the Year award as proof of her elite status. The Dream’s undefeated postseason push underscores Reese’s impact, as she became the first player in WNBA history to achieve such statistical milestones in a single season.

Parker also emphasized the need for constructive criticism in women’s basketball, stressing that her initial ranking was based on Reese’s limited experience at the time—just one year in the league when she was compared to veterans like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Reese’s trade from the Chicago Sky to Atlanta in April, part of a multi-pick deal, further solidified her role as the cornerstone of the Dream’s championship aspirations.