WNBA All-Star voting is formally right here, and this 12 months, I (SB Nation senior ladies’s basketball author Noa Dalzell) am submitting a poll for the primary time.
First, a bit little bit of context on the way it all works. Media members can vote for 4 backcourt gamers and 6 frontcourt gamers. Ten gamers (4 backcourt and 6 frontcourt) will finally be named starters. These gamers can be decided by a fan vote (50%), media vote (25%), and participant vote (25%).
In idea, having a media vote is thrilling! Over the previous few years, I’ve watched numerous hours of WNBA video games and have plenty of sturdy opinions. In actuality, having a media vote inevitably means leaving (a number of) deserving gamers off an inventory that you simply actually need to see them on.
The necessary word is that along with the ten starters, the All-Star recreation will embrace 12 reserves. These can be determined by the 13 WNBA head coaches, who will vote for reserves (they received’t be capable to vote for gamers on their group). Already, the WNBA introduced that Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Minnesota Lynx ahead Napheesa Collier have been the 2 main vote-getters amongst followers, and can due to this fact
Yet another word: My picks have been made on Thursday, June twenty sixth — hours earlier than voting was due — so I wasn’t in a position to keep in mind video games performed over the course of the previous few days. That’s made a few omissions significantly painful.
My backcourt picks
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Clark has struggled of late, and the Fever aren’t the juggernaut many anticipated. Nonetheless, she’s been one of many league’s high playmakers — averaging 8.9 assists per recreation — and a crucial a part of Indiana’s success. Clark’s been sidelined with two accidents this season — a quad damage and a groin damage — and it’s not clear how a lot her taking pictures struggles might be traced again to those accidents.
Nonetheless, the Fever are tied with the Aces for the league’s Seventh-best document, and Clark’s averaging 18.2 factors, 8.9 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals.
Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Sabrina Ionescu is placing collectively one other All-Star season, although she’s struggled a bit in her previous few video games. Nonetheless, Ionescu is averaging a career-high 18.6 factors alongside 5.1 assists and three.5 rebounds per recreation. Her 1.5 steals per recreation are additionally a career-high.
Ionescu hasn’t been capable of finding her stroke from past the arc with the identical stage of consistency as she did when she shot 44.8% in 2023 — she’s taking pictures 32.8% from three this season — however she’s discovered different methods to attain, trying a career-high 4.8 free throws per night time and taking pictures 93.1% from the road.
Allisha Grey, Atlanta Dream
Allisha Grey has made an enormous leap this season. Grey is the league’s fifth-leading scorer and has performed a crucial position in propelling the Dream to a top-four seed up to now. She’s averaging a career-best 19.5 factors per recreation, taking pictures 46.9% from the sphere and 42.4% from three. She’s additionally averaging 4.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds per recreation.
Grey’s three-point taking pictures effectivity has been huge in head coach Karl Smesko’s three-point-centered offense. Of WNBA gamers making at the very least two threes per recreation, solely Cecilia Zandalasini is taking pictures at a better clip from past the arc.
Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
Skylar Diggins has been quietly placing collectively an superior season. Diggins is averaging 18.9 factors per recreation on 46.3% taking pictures, together with 41.8% from three. That’s good for Seventh general in scoring. She’s additionally the second-most environment friendly three-point shooter amongst High 20 scorers. Diggins is fourth within the WNBA in assists per recreation, averaging 6.1 dimes an evening.
Notice: There have been a number of different deserving guards right here, and people gamers will probably get chosen as All-Star reserves. Honorable mentions embrace Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks), Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics), (Chicago Sky), and Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings), amongst others.
Frontcourt picks:
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Napheesa Collier is having an MVP-caliber season and is a shoo-in for an All-Star starter. Final 12 months’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months has elevated her scoring (20.4 factors to 24.4 factors), effectivity (49.2% FG to 52.5% FG), and three-point taking pictures (31% to 39.6%). She’s additionally the engine of the league’s finest group; at 14-2, the Lynx have the league’s finest document by 2.5 video games and appear poised for a second consecutive Finals run.
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
The Aces have struggled this season, and A’ja Wilson isn’t enjoying to the usual of her three MVP years. However, she’s nonetheless one of many league’s finest gamers — second general in scoring, third in steals, second in rebounds — and has continued to function a two-way pressure for the two-time champs. Wilson is averaging 21.6 factors per recreation on 43.9% taking pictures, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals, and a couple of.6 blocks. Her taking pictures numbers are down, however she’s nonetheless a top-five participant within the WNBA.
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Apart from three-point taking pictures, Breanna Stewart is having an superior season. She’s acknowledged on quite a few events that she’s working to get her contact from past the arc again, however within the meantime, she’s discovered effectivity from elsewhere.
Stewart is averaging 20.8 factors per recreation — good for third most within the WNBA — and is taking pictures 50.9% from the sphere, up from 45.8% final season. Her three-point numbers have plummeted, although, as she hits simply 21.6% from three. Stewart additionally stays one of many league’s elite defenders on the WNBA’s third-best group
Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Alyssa Thomas has missed time with a calf damage this 12 months, however when she’s been on the ground, the longtime Connecticut Solar cornerstone has demonstrated her impression. On Sunday, A’ja Wilson stated that Thomas must be within the MVP dialog, and he or she’s not flawed.
Thomas is taking pictures a career-best 53.8% from the sphere en path to averaging 14.8 factors per recreation. Her 9.3 assists per recreation lead the league, and he or she’s benefitting from enjoying with a slew of elite shooters in Phoenix, which she merely did not have in Connecticut. The Mercury have the WNBA’s second-best document at 12-5, and Thomas has been an enormous motive why. (With Thomas within the lineup, Phoenix is 10-2).
Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury
The opposite engine behind the Mercury’s success is Satou Sabally. Sabally is the league’s sixth-leading scorer, and he or she’s held the fort down for Phoenix, averaging 19.1 factors per recreation throughout 17 video games. Sabally has struggled a bit from the sphere — she’s taking pictures 39.3% — however her general impression in Phoenix has been plain. She’s additionally the league’s Seventh-leading rebounder.
Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
That is my wildcard decide. Gabby Williams’ numbers don’t soar out as a lot as among the different forwards on this checklist, and he or she probably received’t be named an All-Star starter. However Williams’ perimeter protection has been completely crucial to the Storm’s success, and offensively, she’s been a do-it-all participant for a Seattle group that’s desperately wanted her contributions. All-Star picks normally disproportionately measure offensive impression. I’m giving Williams the nod as a result of her defensive impression — and offensive progress — has been huge.
Notice: There have been a number of different deserving forwards right here, and people gamers will probably get chosen as All-Star reserves. Honorable mentions embrace Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm), Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
