July is in full swing, which suggests the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend is correct across the nook.
On Monday, the league introduced the eight starters — Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Allisha Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Nneka Ogwumike, Satou Sabally, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson — who will take the courtroom alongside captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier for the exhibition on July 19 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in Indianapolis.
The league’s 13 head coaches have since been tasked with choosing the 12 All-Star Recreation reserves. Every should choose three guards, 5 frontcourt gamers and 4 gamers no matter place, and coaches can’t vote for their very own gamers.
The 12 reserves will likely be introduced on WNBA social and digital platforms at midday ET on Sunday, whereas ESPN will air the outcomes of the roster draft — wherein Clark and Collier choose their respective groups — throughout “WNBA Countdown” at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Forward of Sunday’s announcement, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Michael Voepel, Kendra Andrews and Kevin Pelton mission which gamers will likely be chosen because the 12 reserves to spherical out the 2025 WNBA All-Stars.
Projected reserves
Frontcourt
1:39
Angel Reese has her first triple-double within the WNBA
Angel Reese data her first triple-double for the Chicago Sky with 11 assists, 11 factors and 13 rebounds.
Angel Reese, Chicago Sky, F
Standout stat: Leads league in rebounding (12.6 RPG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 1
Reese has bounced again from a tricky begin to the season to earn a spot on this record. She stays an elite rebounder, however what stands out most about her sophomore marketing campaign is the event of her playmaking. Reese shined just lately with a 24-point, 16-rebound, 7-assist outing in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks and earlier in June notched her first triple-double, in opposition to Connecticut. Her discipline purpose clip can also be roughly 15 share factors higher in June than in Might (45.9% vs. 31.1%). — Philippou
0:18
Alyssa Thomas finishes via contact
Alyssa Thomas finishes via contact, 06/29/2025
Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury, F
Standout stat: Leads league in assists (9.3 APG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 5
Thomas was often known as the “Engine” throughout her tenure in Connecticut, the place she was a perennial MVP and DPOY candidate. These attributes have translated to her first season in Phoenix, the place she is flourishing in a system constructed round her strengths. The Maryland Terrapins legend has propelled the Mercury to one in all their finest begins in years because the new-look squad has outperformed preseason expectations. Thomas missed 5 video games earlier this summer season due to a calf damage, however her career-high 9.3 assists per sport lead the league. — Philippou
0:16
Brionna Jones with the ring and hurt for Atlanta
Brionna Jones finishes via contact for the Dream vs. the Liberty.
Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream, F
Standout stat: Leads Dream in rebounding (7.9 RPG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 3
After eight seasons in Connecticut, Jones signed as a free agent with Atlanta and is a key a part of the Dream’s success up to now. She is the anchor for his or her rebounding and a reliable defender inside. She has adjusted her offensive sport (13.8 PPG) so as to add the 3-pointer — a staple for first-year Dream coach Karl Smesko — and has already tried extra photographs from past the arc this 12 months than in her earlier three seasons mixed. Whereas she’s nonetheless seeking to enhance her 3-point share (23.1), she’s displaying she will be able to nonetheless evolve her sport. — Voepel
0:39
Kayla Thornton drills dagger 3 for Valkyries in OT
Kayla Thornton connects on a 3-pointer within the last minute to present the Valkyries a six-point lead over the Sparks.
Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries, F
Standout stat: Leads Valkyries in factors (15 PPG), rebounds (6.9 RPG) and steals (1.7 SPG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: None
Thornton was integral to the New York Liberty’s title run final season as a task participant earlier than being left unprotected within the enlargement draft and subsequently chosen by the Golden State Valkyries. Now, she’s enjoying a few of the finest basketball of her profession. Extra impressively, she’s serving to the Valkyries blow their preseason expectations out of the water and contend for a playoff spot. — Andrews
0:22
Gabby Williams’ heads-up move units up bucket for Storm
Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm, F
Standout stat: Leads league in steals (2.6 APG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: None
Enjoying her first full WNBA season since 2022, Williams has introduced stateside the elite play we have seen from her with the French nationwide workforce and in EuroLeague. Along with main the WNBA in steals, she recorded point-rebound and point-assist double-doubles in consecutive video games final month, highlighting her versatility. Taking pictures has traditionally been the weakest a part of Williams’ sport, and he or she has improved there, too, hitting a career-high 37% from past the arc and main the Storm in made 3s. — Pelton
Guards
0:16
Skylar Diggins drains the trey
Skylar Diggins drains the trey
Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm, G
Standout stat: Leads Storm in factors (18.9 PPG) and assists (6.1 APG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 6
Choosing up the place she left off after the 2024 Olympic break and an excellent season within the Unmatched 3-on-3 league, Diggins has been the main scorer and distributor for a Seattle workforce that hasn’t missed All-Star guard Jewell Loyd. Particularly, Diggins’ 41.8% 3-point taking pictures has been essential for a Storm workforce that takes comparatively few triples however makes them at a excessive price. Her statistical manufacturing is comparable throughout the board, if not higher, than when she made All-WNBA first workforce in 2022. Because of this, the massive query is not whether or not Diggins needs to be a reserve, however whether or not she merited beginning the sport. — Pelton
1:43
Rhyne Howard (15 factors) Highlights vs. Minnesota Lynx
Rhyne Howard (15 factors) Highlights vs. Minnesota Lynx, 06/27/2025
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream, G
Standout stat: 49 3-pointers made
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 2
Allisha Gray will signify Atlanta among the many All-Star starters, however Howard, the opposite half of the Dream’s backcourt energy duo, has a powerful case for becoming a member of her teammate in Indianapolis. The 2022 No. 1 decide leads the league in made 3s and is averaging a career-high 4.7 assists per sport, most on the workforce. Whereas she’s able to offensive explosions — she has tallied a pair of 30-point video games already this season — her All-Star case is additional bolstered as she continues to ascertain herself as one of many premier wing defenders within the WNBA. — Philippou
0:27
Kayla McBride gathers the rock and splashes a 3
Kayla McBride gathers the rock and splashes a 3.
Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx, G
Standout stat: Taking pictures a career-best 45.7% from the sphere
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 4
Now in her twelfth WNBA season, McBride is the No. 2 scorer for the league-leading Lynx. She averaged a career-best 2.7 3s per sport final season and is at 2.8 this 12 months. Her 2-point taking pictures share can also be the very best it has been in her profession (54.5). The transfer to Minnesota in 2021 has been the perfect factor for McBride and for the Lynx, as she has match coach Cheryl Reeve’s system so properly and has been such a great complement to Napheesa Collier. — Voepel
0:23
Kelsey Mitchell helps seal Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup win over Lynx
Kelsey Mitchell makes a jumper to place the Fever up 12 factors late within the fourth quarter.
Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever, G
Standout stat: Leads Fever in scoring (18.9 PPG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 2
The Indiana Fever have two All-Star starters in Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, however Mitchell may very properly signify the workforce as a reserve. She has been an integral a part of Indiana’s success, particularly just lately as Clark has been sidelined by a left groin damage, averaging 21 factors over the previous three video games. Mitchell’s 18.9 factors per sport on the season leads the workforce, and he or she’s enjoying the second-most minutes behind simply Clark. Earlier this season, Mitchell additionally turned the fourth-fastest participant in WNBA historical past to achieve 4,000 factors, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 500 made 3-pointers. — Andrews
1:13
Kelsey Plum comes alive in 4th to steer Sparks previous Fever
Kelsey Plum goes on a tear within the fourth quarter to steer the Sparks to a hard-fought win over the Fever.
Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks, G
Standout stat: Fourth in league in scoring (20.6 PPG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 3
Plum touchdown in Los Angeles was one of many largest strikes in February’s free company interval, and whereas the Sparks are struggling, she is enjoying at an All-Star degree. She has career-high marks in scoring (20.6 factors per sport) in addition to rebounds (3.0 per sport) and assists (5.6 per sport). There are solely six gamers in league historical past who averaged 20 factors and 5 assists in a season, and Plum is on observe to do it for the second time in her profession. — Andrews
0:20
Brittney Sykes by some means will get circus shot to drop
Brittney Sykes scores for the Mystics with a wild and-1 in opposition to the Sky.
Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics, G
Standout stat: Leads league in made free throws (7.1 FTMPG)
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: None
After the Mystics traded away veteran guard Ariel Atkins and drafted three gamers within the first spherical of the 2025 WNBA draft, they seemed to be heading right into a rebuild. Together with the manufacturing of rookie starters Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, authentic All-Star contenders in their very own proper, Sykes has been the most important motive Washington continues to be competing for a playoff spot. Improbably, Sykes leads the WNBA in free throws made and tried, averaging greater than double her earlier per-game profession excessive in each classes. On account of these journeys to the foul line, and an 80% accuracy price, Sykes’ effectivity hasn’t dropped whilst she has been requested to create extra offense whereas averaging profession highs in factors (18.6) and assists (4.8). — Pelton
0:19
Jackie Younger with the shot made
Jackie Younger with the shot made, 06/26/2025
Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces, G
Standout stat: Averaging a career-high 18.0 PPG
Variety of earlier All-Star appearances: 3
The Aces have not performed as properly this season as they’re used to, however Younger’s constant manufacturing hasn’t modified. She has averaged round 4.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds via her seven-season profession, and that is the place she is now. Her 3-point taking pictures share (31.5) is off from the previous three seasons, however she has time to enhance that. And defensively, she’s nonetheless one of the vital versatile gamers within the league, as she will be able to guard anybody. — Voepel
Who was the hardest participant so that you can reduce?
Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks, F: Hamby’s statistics warrant robust consideration — she’s averaging 16.5 factors, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals — and he or she has been an All-Star 3 times beforehand. Nevertheless, the Sparks’ struggles this season have not helped. And after choosing the obligatory 5 frontcourt gamers for the reserves, we opted to go along with seven guards. Had we gone with six and 6, Hamby would have been the following ahead chosen. — Voepel
Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx, C: Smith’s per-game stats (10.8 factors, 5.6 rebounds) do not bounce off the web page, however she’s second within the WNBA in blocks per sport (2.5) and hyperefficient once you consider making 1.3 3-pointers per sport at a 36% clip. Her 60% efficient discipline purpose share — which counts 3s as 1.5 discipline objectives to replicate their added worth — is third amongst gamers who’ve performed a minimum of 250 minutes. And Minnesota’s league-leading begin actually deserves a 3rd All-Star. — Pelton
Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics, G: Citron has had a breakout rookie season and at one level was main our Rookie of the Yr dialog. Averaging 15.1 factors per sport and taking pictures 47%, Citron has been essential to the Mystics outperforming their preseason projections. In the end, we did not consider Washington would get two All-Stars and opted to incorporate Sykes as an alternative. However Citron was excessive in our dialog in regards to the guards. — Andrews
Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty, C: Jones, the 2024 Finals MVP, wasn’t a last reduce just like the aforementioned gamers — she has been restricted to 9 video games due to an ankle sprain and, after aggravating the damage through the Liberty’s June 19 contest versus Phoenix, was dominated out for 4 to 6 weeks. However previous to getting damage, Jones was on observe to being named an All-Star, averaging 12.1 factors and 9.6 rebounds whereas hitting 43.8% of her 3s. Her absence has solely strengthened how essential she is to the Liberty’s success, as they’re 8-1 in video games wherein she has appeared and 3-4 in any other case. Accidents are part of the sport, however it’s comprehensible Jones can be “pissed” her ankle points derailed what was possible one more All-Star bid. — Philippou
Is there a reserve you’ll have picked as an All-Star starter?
Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm, G: Diggins was the one participant we projected final week as a starter who did not really get that distinction. Dallas rookie Paige Bueckers ended up with the opposite beginning guard slot. That wasn’t a foul alternative, however Diggins’ manufacturing for the Storm has been distinctive: 18.9 factors, 6.1 assists, 1.2 steals per sport. Plus, she’s taking pictures 41.8% from past the arc. — Voepel
Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury, F: I voted for Thomas as a starter as a result of whereas the Mercury did not totally flounder throughout her five-game absence, she continues to be the participant who makes them go and places them within the contender tier. The truth is, whereas Collier is likely to be the MVP front-runner, Thomas belongs within the MVP dialog and will make the race attention-grabbing if she and Phoenix construct off the workforce’s robust June run for a dominant second half. — Philippou