The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is set.
The starters were announced earlier, and now the 11 reserves have been named.
Congratulations to Sonia Citron, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Kiki Iriafen, Jonquel Jones, Marina Mabrey, Dominique Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Courtney Williams and Jackie Young.
Together, these are the 22 players the fans, media, players and coaches believe are the best in the WNBA.
Here are our three biggest takeaways from the latest All-Star announcement.
In the comments, share your thoughts on all things All-Star. Did the coaches get it right? Who is the most surprising selection? And, who’s the biggest snub?
Dream deferred isn’t a Dream denied
When the starters were announced, many fans were surprised that the Atlanta Dream had zero players named despite, at the time, having one of the best records in the WNBA.
Well, that has been fixed with three players from Atlanta making the team as reserves. Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese and Allisha Gray will be coming to Chicago as All-Stars.
For All-Star voting purposes, Howard was labeled as a guard and wasn’t voted above Caitlin Clark, Olivia Miles, Kelsey Mitchell or Paige Bueckers as a starter. But, she makes it as a backup backcourt player. Howard is averaging a career-high 18.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for the Dream.
Despite Reese being ranked sixth in the frontcourt voting, which should’ve been enough to give her the final starting spot, she missed it by decimal points to Natasha Howard. She makes it as a reserve, securing her third All-Star appearance. Her rebounding numbers have taken a slight dip this year. Reese is averaging 11.8 boards per game, but she is posting a career-high 14.9 points in her first year with the Dream.
Gray remains an elite scorer, averaging 18.5 points per game. This is now her fourth-consecutive All-Star appearance.
More first-time All-Stars with Marina Mabrey and Dominque Malonga
Every year, a handful of players receive and All-Star honor for the first time, and 2026 is no exception.
Miles and Jessica Shepard were penciled in as starters for their All-Star appearance, and a pair of reserves will also make their All-Star debut.
Marina Mabrey has made the team as the first-ever All-Star for the Toronto Tempo. In her eighth WNBA season, she’s having a career year, averaging 21.1 points per game while converting 39 percent of her 3-point attempts.
She had her best game—and then some—against the Los Angeles Sparks, where she lit them up for 53 points, tying the single-game record in the WNBA.
Dominque Malonga will also be making her first All-Star appearance. The second-year emerging star for the Seattle Storm is averaging 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She is also one of the best rim protectors, averaging 1.2 blocks in each contest.
It was an All-Star desert for the Mercury
Even with 22 spots, it’s impossible to get everyone in who is worthy.
Brittney Sykes is averaging 20.1 points per game, good for eighth in the WNBA in scoring. But, she will be missing out on the All-Star Game, and the Tempo made sure to take to social media to give a statement on the snub.
Last year, Alyssa Thomas was not only an All-Star for the sixth time in her career, but also finished third in MVP voting. This year, despite similar numbers, she will not earn a seventh All-Star appearance. Thomas is averaging 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game.
Kahleah Copper also didn’t make the All-Star cut. She is averaging 20.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
After the All-Star reserves were announced, Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts expressed his frustration.
There is still a chance for Sykes, Thomas, Copper or other players to make the team. If a player is injured and can’t play, a replacement will be announced. But as things stand, the players who will be in Chicago this July are set.
From the starters to the reserves and from multi-time All-Stars to first-timers, all 22 WNBA All-Stars are deserving. They are a great representation of the league and its talent. And the fact that others were equally deserving is an indication of just how good shape the WNBA is in.
