Full Breakdown
2026 WNBA All-Star Game Voting and Starter Selections
6/26/2026, 10:40:29 PM
Background & Voting Framework
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game will be staged in Chicago at the United Center on July 25, following All-Star Friday Night on July 24. This year the league eliminated player captains; instead, the top four guards and six frontcourt players by weighted score become starters. Fan ballots account for 50 % of the final score, while current players and a media panel each contribute 25 %. The voting deadline for fans closed Saturday night, and the media ballot deadline was the preceding Friday.
Media Member Ballot Highlights
A senior SB Nation writer submitted the official media ballot, selecting four guards—Olivia Miles, Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, and Caitlin Clark—and six frontcourt players—A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, Gabby Williams, and Jessica Shepard. The ballot also listed Angel Reese and Jonquel Jones among the hardest exclusions. The media member noted that “I would have much preferred the 10 picks to be positionless, as I would have likely omitted one or two frontcourt players and replaced them with guards (I’m looking at you, Kelsey Plum).”
Fan Voting Surge: Boston and Clark Lead
Second-round fan voting placed Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston at the top with 683,996 votes, closely followed by teammate Caitlin Clark with 670,510 votes. A’ja Wilson dropped to third with 659,057 votes, while Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart rounded out the top five. The surge reflects both players’ strong statistical output and heightened media visibility.
Player Performance Data
Key statistical leaders include A’ja Wilson (25.1 pts, 9.1 reb, 3.2 ast, 51.9 % FG), Breanna Stewart (19.4 pts, 8.8 reb, 45.1 % FG), and Caitlin Clark (21.2 pts, 8.2 ast, 43 % FG). Frontcourt standouts also feature Natasha Howard (17.5 pts, 61.8 % FG) and Jessica Shepard (14.6 pts, 11.3 reb, 48.8 % FG). Guard Olivia Miles posted 18.6 pts and 5.6 ast while maintaining a 52.2 % field-goal rate. These performances underpin the selections and illustrate why the top-voted players are also statistical leaders.
Criticism of the Selection Process
The media member criticized the current format for penalizing availability, noting that “The process is imperfect, and I’m sure many will disagree with some of these selections.” Injured guard Kelsey Plum, despite a 43-point career-high, was omitted due to limited playing time, highlighting tension between voting weight and on-court contributions.
Official League Statements
The WNBA confirmed that “Fan ballots close Saturday night and account for 50 % of the All-Star final selection. Current players and a media panel each contribute the remaining 25 %.” The league also emphasized that the weighted ranking will determine the four guards and six frontcourt starters, irrespective of fan-vote rank order.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’ll say this — I would have much preferred the 10 picks to be positionless, as I would have likely omitted one or two frontcourt players and replaced them with guards (I’m looking at you, Kelsey Plum).” — Media Member, SB Nation
- “Still, this process is imperfect, and I’m sure many will disagree with some of these selections.” — Media Member, SB Nation
- “In a dramatic overtime win over the Storm, Bueckers became the fourth-fastest player in league history to reach 1,000 career points, doing so in 52 games.” — CBS Sports
- “She is the best player in the world, and it's not particularly close.” — CBS Sports
- “3% from three Team record: 14-4 It’s hard to believe that Olivia Miles is a legitimate MVP candidate, but she is.” — Media Member, SB Nation
- “All of the drama has overshadowed the fact that Clark is playing the best basketball of her career.” — CBS Sports
What’s Next
The All-Star Game will air live on ABC at 8:30 PM ET on July 25. The selected starters will be announced following the final tally of weighted scores, with reserves to be named shortly thereafter. The event will showcase the league’s leading talent and serve as a barometer for fan engagement ahead of the season’s second half.
