Angel Reese will play her first WNBA All-Star Game without any family in the crowd, as she confirmed on Friday that her mother Angel and brother Julian couldn’t get to Phoenix, AZ

Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese won’t have the support of her family during her first WNBA All-Star Game, as her mom and brother are unable to attend.

Reese touched down in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday ahead of the All-Star Game against USA Basketball on Saturday night, but earlier in the day revealed that her biggest fans couldn’t make it. “My mom & brother won’t able to be at my first all-star,” Reese wrote on X followed by a crying emoji.

The reason for their absence hasn’t been confirmed, although it’s likely that the global Microsoft issues are to blame as millions were affected on Friday. The IT outage caused chaos around the world but also impacted thousands of flights as planes were unable to operate with their systems down.

Reese is from the Maryland area, and a flight from Washington D.C. to Phoenix takes roughly five hours. The only other option was a 2,000-mile drive which would take 35 hours without factoring in stops, meaning that Reese’s mom, Angel, and brother, Julian, had no choice but to cancel their plans.

The Sky rookie has been in the area since earlier this week but was one state away in Nevada. Reese opted to skip Thursday’s All-Star Orange Carpet event, instead choosing to stay in Las Vegas and watch the NBA Summer League.

Reese received some criticism from fans following her decision, with the snub seen as arrogant ahead of her first All-Star appearance. However, Reese hit back and made a dig at the WNBA, suggesting that she was benefitting more financially from watching the Summer League.

After being called out by a fan on X, Reese replied: “It’s ok babe. I’m minding the business that PAYS me.” Reese’s WNBA salary is listed as $73,439 after signing a four-year, $324,383 contract with the Sky after being selected seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Angel Reese was courtside for the NBA Summer League while fellow WNBA All-Stars gathered in Phoenix.

In contrast, the seventh-overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft was Donovan Clingan, who signed a four-year, $31.1 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, earning $6.8 million a season. Reese earns more from her endorsement deals after signing with Reebok and secured an estimated $1.8 million in NIL money when leaving LSU and declaring for the draft.

Another top rookie earner is Caitlin Clark, who will also be playing in the WNBA All-Star Game. Clark is one of the most relevant athletes in sports and has signed deals with Nike, Gatorade, and State Farm, but is also earning approximately $75,000 per season on her rookie WNBA contract.

Her wealth was demonstrated on the Orange Carpet when arriving alongside A’ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, and Breanna Stewart as she wore a Tiffany and Co. necklace worth $78,000. The accessory was more valuable than her entire salary, proving that her rookie contract contributes marginally to her annual earnings.