Latest news with #2025WNBAAll-StarGame
NBC Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 WNBA All-Star Snubs: Brittney Sykes and Kayla McBride among the biggest misses
The participants for the 2025 WNBA All-Star game have been set with captains Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark selecting their teams from an eight-player pool of starters and then a 12-player pool of reserves. That selection process will be revealed during an hour-long episode of WNBA Countdown on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will take place on Saturday, July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. 🌟 Complete roster of the 2025 @ATT WNBA All-Stars that will take the court in Indiana July 19 🌟 There are four first time All-Stars in Storm wing Gabby Williams, Valkyries Forward Kayla Thornton and Mystics rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. While there were some snubs in the All-Star starters category including primarily Skylar Diggins and Alyssa Thomas, the general opinion around the starters was that the weighted voting combining the fan votes, peer votes and media votes spit out a group that was mostly very fair and rational. But the exact opposite feeling surrounds the reserves which were announced on Sunday afternoon. Some believe that this might have been the most perplexing group of players chosen by the head coaches in recent memory. A void that stands out in the total group of 2025 WNBA All-Stars is the sheer lack of centers with Jonquel Jones, Alanna Smith, and Brionna Jones being left off the reserves list. Two Sparks front court players in Dearica Hamby and Azurá Stevens were left off after having pretty efficient starts to their seasons. But the argument against one or both of Stevens and Hamby being selected lies in the fact that the Sparks are 6-13 this season and are 10th in the standings out of 13. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve expressed her confusion by the reserves selected, especially because teams like the Mystics are below .500 and will boast 2 All-Stars. Also the fourth best team in the league in the Seattle Storm will have the most All-Stars with three while the top three teams in the Lynx, Mercury and Liberty will have just two. 'Historically, teams at the top get a minimum of three, oftentimes four. So really disappointing,' Reeve said. 'Really, really happy for Courtney [Williams]. The obvious one was [Napheesa Collier], but we are disappointed in the coaches voting with regard to their selections for All-Star.' So who was snubbed and why are there a lot of questions surrounding the judgment of the 13 head coaches around the league? It's hard to exactly know the reasons for the glaring discrepancies this season, but it's worth remembering that there are seven first time WNBA head coaches this season. Also, who knows what each coach considered while voting. They had from June 29 until July 2 to vote for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players of either position. Was this also a popularity contest when it comes to the players who are the most well liked around the league? Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello admitted on Sunday that she voted for Thornton, a player she coached for two seasons including during the Liberty's championship year in 2024. 'She's been a role player all of her career,' Brondello said. 'But to go into a new organization and do so well. I voted for her as an alternate. I think it would be great for her to get there, and because she deserves it.' While Thornton hasn't been the most efficient shooting 39.2% from the field and 27.9% from three, the Valkyries deserved a representative simply because of the season they've had as the best year-one expansion team in WNBA history. Thornton is their leading scorer, was a WNBA Western Conference player of the week last month and her contributions come on both ends of the floor. Anyway, let's get into some of the most head-scratching snubs in recent memory. Sykes is the Mystics' leading scorer (17.9 ppg) and she often is tasked with defending the opponent's best perimeter player. She is averaging 8.7 free throw attempts per game which leads the WNBA. She also leads her own team in assists averaging 4.6 per game. Whatever about me…. But taking 2, and NOT including the best player from a below 500 team is crazy. Speaking of Sykes' own team, while Sonia Citron has put together an impressive rookie season and more efficient shooting splits than her teammate, her load isn't as demanding as Sykes. It remains bizarre to reward a below .500 team in the league with two All-Stars and one of them isn't even their number one option and leading scorer in Sykes. Jones might be the Dream's second most important player after All-Star starter Allisha Gray. She has just as many win shares as All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins and more than Sabrina Ionescu and Alyssa Thomas. Even though Rhyne Howard is the Dream's second leading scorer and was the second Dream player to make the All-Star team, her teammate in Jones has been leaps and bounds more efficient. Jones has been shooting 51% from the field and makes a little bit over 5 shots a game. Howard has shot 34.2% from the field and also makes a little bit over 5 shots a game. It also begs the question if Angel Reese should have been a front court representative instead of Jones. While she has strung together a bunch of strong performances since June 10 including her first ever triple-double, Reese struggled mightily with her efficiency for the first month of the season, and her average scoring and rebounding numbers are slightly down from her 2024 All-Star season. It wasn't surprising to see a Lynx guard selected, but what was surprising was that it wasn't McBride. Before the Lynx's game yesterday afternoon against the Sky, which was on a back-to-back, McBride was putting together a historic season, shooting over 50% from the field, over 40% from three and over 90% from the line while averaging almost 15 points a game. While Courtney Williams' averages of 13.5 points and 5.9 assists are impressive, McBride has been averaging +12 plus-minus to Williams' +7.7 in addition to being Minnesota's second leading scorer behind Collier. It's also worth noting that Williams had two games this season where she didn't make a single field goal. Lynx head coach Reeve alluded to her team deserving more than two All-Stars, and there's an argument to be made that besides MVP candidate Collier, it's been Alanna Smith that steps up in critical periods. When Collier didn't play on June 24 against the Mystics, Smith led the team in scoring with 26 points, five rebounds and six blocks. Smith's numbers are quite similar to first time All-Star selection Iriafen. Smith's scoring sits below Iriafen's, averaging 12.3 ppg to Smith's 10.1, and Iriafen also averages more rebounds (8.3 to 5.3). But, Smith averages greater efficiency shooting and more assists (2.9 to 1.3) than the rookie. Iriafen has also seen a decrease in minutes and efficiency following Shakira Austin's reintroduction to the Mystics' starting lineup. Luck hasn't been very generous to the Liberty's 2024 WNBA Finals MVP in Jones. Before she tweaked her right ankle twice, she was playing at an All-Star level averaging a hair below a double-double, in addition to 2.3 assists and 43.8% from three, the best average in her career since her third season in 2017. Nothing worse than playing like an All Star and not being one. With that being said thanks to all the people who took the time to vote for me and congratulations to all the All Stars this year 🙏🏾🙌🏾 The case for Jones is when you look at how her team has performed with and without her this entire season. The Liberty are 9-0 when Jones plays and then when Jones has been out, the Liberty are 3-6. With Jones on the floor when she has played, the Liberty have a 29.94 net rating, but when she's been off the floor and not playing, New York's net rating shrinks to 7.44. While the case against Jones has mainly been the fact that she's only played in nine games so far this season, the same can be said of All-Star captain Clark who only has also played in nine games so far this season. While Clark did receive the top fan vote, shouldn't the reserves be given the same grace as well when it comes to their performance impacting their teams? A scenario I could have seen here could have been that Jones was awarded the designation and then the Commissioner Cathy Engelbert could have named a player in her place.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 WNBA All-Star reserves announced: Angel Reese, Kelsey Plum join roster
The starters for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game were revealed at the start of July, with Indiana's Caitlin Clark and Minnesota's Napheesa Collier named captains. As captains, those two have the unfortunate task of having to pick between the best players across the league, drafting their teams to face off against one another, and the full rosters have finally been revealed. The reserves for the game were announced on Sunday, July 6, including several All-Star Game vets and a few first-timers. Among the reserves, there are four players who will be participating in the WNBA All-Star Game for the first time in their careers: Washington's Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, Golden State's Kayla Thornton, and Seattle's Gabby Williams. This year's roster really is a celebration of the league. Despite 2025 marking the league's first expansion sine 2008, nearly every team in the league is represented in this game, with only the Connecticut Sun lacking a player in the contest. Here are the full reserves for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. WNBA News: Fever have three-game win streak snapped 2025 WNBA All-Star Reserves 2025 WNBA All-Star Game Starters When is the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game? The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, airing at 5:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The game will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Fever. Captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will draft their teams on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Caitlin Clark schedule: When will the Indiana Fever star return from injury?
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Paige Bueckers celebrates milestone of becoming a rookie WNBA All-Star Game starter with Lavender Briggs
Paige Bueckers (via Getty Images) Paige Bueckers is taking over the WNBA. The 2025 WNBA Draft No. 1 overall pick and Dallas Wings guard has officially been named a starter for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game — the first rookie this season to make the starting lineup. Paige Bueckers was seen on Tyrese Maxey's girlfriend Lavender Briggs' Instagram story, beaming with a sweet dessert in the picture, celebrating her achievement. Rookie Paige Bueckers earns 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starter honor in historic moment Paige Bueckers has dominated the headlines since arriving in the WNBA and now can add a marquee award to her resume—earning a starting spot in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, which gets underway later this month in Indianapolis. Not only is her selection impressive, it's historic. Paige Bueckers is part of the select bunch of rookies who get to start in the All-Star Game, a testament to how hot she's played to the halfway mark of the season. Paige Bueckers was seen all smiles and celebrating on Tyrese Maxey's girlfriend Lavender Briggs' Instagram story with a scrumptious plate of dessert written 'All-Star Starter.' Paige Bueckers becomes first rookie to start in an All-Star Game Headline all newcomers in scoring and assists, Bueckers is also averaging 18.4 points and 5.8 assists per game. She's also posted six 20-point games already, which has helped put her among the brightest new faces in the WNBA. One of the notable omissions from the All-Star starting lineup is Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, whose absence already generated a preliminary stir on social media, especially considering her recent game-shaking performances. All-Star pick marks new era in Paige Bueckers' WNBA career The 2025 season has been nothing short of revolutionary for Paige Bueckers, and an All-Star selection may be merely the beginning. Her early success — both statistically and as a team leader — bodes well for a foundational change for the Dallas Wings, who now have a genuine franchise cornerstone. Off the court, Bueckers' growing profile — perhaps best epitomized by when she embraced Lavender Briggs — shows how she's rapidly becoming the WNBA's most marketable superstar. Also read: Paige Bueckers gets exciting WNBA news from Curt Miller ahead of All-Star night As the All-Star Weekend nears, everyone will be following Bueckers—not just to watch her play on the court, but how she continues to shape the future of women's basketball. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Fever Make Caitlin Clark WNBA All-Star Announcement on Tuesday
Indiana Fever Make Caitlin Clark WNBA All-Star Announcement on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After winning their last two games without All-WNBA guard Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever have jumped to 4-4 on the young 2025 WNBA season. Advertisement On Tuesday, the Fever will be without Clark for a fifth straight game, taking on Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream. In Indiana's fourth game of the season, a narrow 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, Clark suffered a left quad strain that has left her out for over two weeks. Still, the former Iowa Hawkeyes guard is averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game. Despite missing half of the Fever's games, Indiana announced just hours before Tuesday's matchup that fans can vote for Clark to make her second WNBA All-Star appearance, along with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. "⭐️ WNBA All-Star Voting June 12-28 ⭐️," the Fever wrote on X. "mark your calendars & set your alarms 🗳️ vote Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell into the @WNBA All-Star game starting Thursday at 2 p.m.!" The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Fever, on Saturday, July 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Voting will begin on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET and end on Saturday, June 28, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Advertisement This year, fans will account for 50% of the All-Star voting, while players count for 25% and the media counts for the last 25%. The four guards and six frontcourt players who tally the most votes will earn starting spots. The two players with the most votes will be named captains of their team and will select the final 12 reserve spots. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Fever, without Clark and Sophie Cunningham (right ankle), will take on the Dream on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Then, they will get Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon. Related: Fever Coach Stephanie White Issues Apology Amid Caitlin Clark Injury This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
