The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend is Approaching
July is in full swing, which means the WNBA 2025 All-Star weekend is just around the corner. The most anticipated sporting event in professional women’s basketball is about to take place.On Monday, the league announced the eight starting players who will compete in the event. These are: Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Allisha Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Nneka Ogwumike, Satou Sabally, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson. They will join captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier on the court for the July 19 exhibition in Indianapolis.
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Projected Reservations
Attack Zone
Angel Reese, Chicago Sky, F
Highlighted statistic: Leads the league in rebounds (12.6 RPG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: 1 Reese has recovered from a difficult start to the season to earn a spot on this list. She remains an elite rebounder, but what stands out most about her second-year campaign is the development of her playmaking game. Reese recently shined with a performance of 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists against the Los Angeles Sparks, and in early June, she achieved her first triple-double against Connecticut. Her field goal percentage is also approximately 15 percentage points better in June than in May (45.9% versus 31.1%).Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury, F
Highlighted statistic: Leads the league in assists (9.3 APG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: 5 Thomas was known as the “Motor” during her time in Connecticut, where she was a perennial MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Those qualities have translated into her first season in Phoenix, where she is thriving in a system built around her strengths. The Maryland Terrapins legend has propelled the Mercury to one of their best starts in years, as the new team has exceeded preseason expectations. Thomas missed five games earlier this summer due to a calf injury, but her career-high 9.3 assists per game lead the league.Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream, F
Key Statistic: Leads the Dream in rebounds (8.1 RPG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: 3 After eight seasons in Connecticut, Jones signed as a free agent with Atlanta and is a key part of the Dream’s success so far. She is the anchor for their rebounds and a reliable defender inside. She has adjusted her offensive game (14.0 PPG) to add the three-pointer, a staple for Dream’s first-year coach, Karl Smesko, and has already attempted more shots from beyond the arc this year than in her previous three seasons combined. While she is still looking to improve her three-point percentage (22.2), she is proving that she can still evolve her game.Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries, F
Key Statistic: Leads the Valkyries in points (15 PPG), rebounds (6.9 RPG), and steals (1.7 SPG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: None Thornton was fundamental to the New York Liberty’s title run last season as a role player before being left unprotected in the expansion draft and subsequently selected by the Golden State Valkyries. Now, she is playing some of the best basketball of her career. Even more impressive, she is helping the Valkyries exceed their preseason expectations and compete for a playoff spot.Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm, F
Highlighted statistic: Leads the league in steals (2.6 APG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: None Playing her first full season in the WNBA since 2022, Williams has brought to the United States the elite game we’ve seen from her with the French national team and in the EuroLeague. In addition to leading the WNBA in steals, she recorded double-doubles of points-rebounds and points-assists in consecutive games last month, highlighting her versatility. Shooting has historically been the weakest part of Williams’ game, and she has also improved there, reaching a career high of 37% from beyond the arc and leading the Storm in three-pointers made.Guards
Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm, G
Key Statistic: Leads the Storm in points (18.9 PPG) and assists (6.1 APG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: 6 Picking up where she left off after the 2024 Olympic break and an outstanding season in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, Diggins has been the top scorer and distributor for a Seattle team that hasn’t missed All-Star guard Jewell Loyd. In particular, Diggins’ 41.8% 3-point shooting has been crucial for a Storm team that takes relatively few threes but makes them at a high rate. Her statistical output is similar across the board, if not better, than when she was named to the All-WNBA first team in 2022. As a result, the big question isn’t whether Diggins should be a reserve, but whether she deserved to start the game.Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream, G
Highlighted statistic: 49 three-pointers scoredNumber of previous All-Star appearances: 2 Allisha Gray will represent Atlanta among the All-Star starters, but Howard, the other half of the Dream’s backcourt power duo, has a strong case to join her teammate in Indianapolis. The 2022 No. 1 pick leads the league in three-pointers made and averages a career-high 4.7 assists per game, the most on the team. While capable of offensive explosions (she has already recorded a couple of 30-point games this season), her case for the All-Star is further strengthened as she continues to establish herself as one of the WNBA’s top defenders.Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx, G
Highlighted statistic: He is shooting 45.5% from the field, the best percentage of his career
Number of previous All-Star appearances: 4 Now in her twelfth season in the WNBA, McBride is the Lynx’s second-leading scorer, leading the league. She averaged a career-high 2.7 three-pointers per game last season and is at 2.8 this year. Her 2-point field goal percentage is also the highest of her career (53.1). The move to Minnesota in 2021 has been the best thing for McBride and the Lynx, as she has adapted so well to coach Cheryl Reeve’s system and has been a good complement to Napheesa Collier.Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever, G
Key Statistic: Leads the Fever in scoring (18.9 PPG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: 2 The Indiana Fever have two All-Star starters in Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, but Mitchell could very well represent the team as a reserve. She has been an integral part of Indiana’s success, especially recently, as Clark has been out with a left groin injury, averaging 21 points in the last three games. Mitchell’s 18.9 points per game this season lead the team, and she is playing the second-most minutes, only behind Clark. Earlier this season, Mitchell also became the fourth-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 4,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 500 three-pointers made.Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks, G
Highlighted statistic: Fourth in the league in scoring (20.6 PPG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: 3 Plum landing in Los Angeles was one of the most important moves in the free agency period of February, and although the Sparks are struggling, she is playing at an All-Star level. She has career-high marks in scoring (20.6 points per game), as well as rebounds (3.0 per game) and assists (5.6 per game). There are only six players in league history who averaged 20 points and five assists in a season, and Plum is on track to do it for the second time in her career.Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics, G
Highlighted statistic: Leads the league in free throws made (7.1 FTMPG)Number of previous All-Star appearances: None After the Mystics traded veteran guard Ariel Atkins and selected three players in the first round of the 2025 WNBA draft, they seemed to be headed for a rebuild. Along with the production of rookie starters Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, legitimate All-Star candidates in their own right, Sykes has been the main reason why Washington is still competing for a playoff spot. Incredibly, Sykes leads the WNBA in free throws made and attempted, averaging more than double her previous career high per game in both categories. As a result of those trips to the free throw line and an 80% accuracy rate, Sykes’ efficiency hasn’t declined, even as she’s been asked to create more offense while averaging career highs in points (18.6) and assists (4.8).Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces, G
Highlighted statistic: Averages 17.3 PPG
Number of previous All-Star appearances: 3 The Aces haven’t played as well this season as they’re used to, but Young’s consistent production is similar. She has averaged around 4.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds throughout her seven-season career, and that’s more or less where she is now (3.7, 4.1). Her 3-point shooting percentage (31.5) is down from the last three seasons, but she has time to improve that. And defensively, she remains one of the most versatile players in the league, as she can guard anyone.Who Was Harder to Exclude?
Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks, F: Hamby’s stats warrant strong consideration: she averages 16.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.9 steals, and has been an All-Star three times previously. However, the Sparks’ struggles this season haven’t helped. And after choosing the five mandatory frontcourt players for the reserves, we opted to choose seven guards. If we had gone with six and six, Hamby would have been the next forward selected.
Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx, C: Smith’s per-game stats (10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds) don’t jump out, but she’s second in the WNBA in blocks per game (2.5) and hyper-efficient when you consider she’s making 1.3 three-pointers per game at 36%. Her 60% effective field goal percentage, which counts three-pointers as 1.5 field goals to reflect their added value, is third among players who have played at least 250 minutes. And Minnesota’s league-leading start to the season certainly deserves a third All-Star.
Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics, G: Citron has had a sensational rookie season and at one point led our conversation about Rookie of the Year. Averaging 15.1 points per game and shooting 47%, Citron has been crucial for the Mystics to exceed preseason projections. Ultimately, we didn’t believe Washington would get two All-Stars and opted to include Sykes instead. But Citron was at the top of our conversation about guards.
Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty, C: Jones, the 2024 Finals MVP, wasn’t a final cut like the players mentioned above: she has been limited to nine games due to a sprained ankle and, after aggravating the injury during the Liberty’s June 19 game against Phoenix, was ruled out for four to six weeks. But before getting injured, Jones was on track to be named an All-Star, averaging 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 43.8% from three-pointers. Her absence has only reinforced how crucial she is to the Liberty’s success, as they have an 8-1 record in the games she has appeared in and 3-4 in the others. Injuries are part of the game, but it’s understandable that Jones was “angry” because her ankle problems derailed what was likely another All-Star candidacy.
