The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend is upon us. The growing league’s brightest stars will take center stage, and the anticipation is building. With the season reaching its midpoint, we had two writers serve as coaches: Bjorn Bergstrom and me.
We each selected a five-player starting lineup, using a snake draft format. Here’s a breakdown of every pick, including the achievements and advanced metrics that back up each player’s All-Star candidacy.
Pick No. 1: F Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx (Bergstrom)
Napheesa Collier has staked her claim as the best player in the WNBA right now. The Minnesota Lynx holds the WNBA’s best record (20-4), and Collier is the driving force behind the team’s success.
Collier leads the league in scoring with 23.9 points per game, per Basketball Reference. She also impacts the game in other ways, averaging 7.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. She’s also been efficient, shooting 51.9% from the field and 33.3% from three on the highest usage rate of her career (29.3%).
Collier’s undeniable impact on both ends of the floor makes her a legitimate candidate for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. It’s no surprise that she was the first player to come off the board.
Pick No. 2: C A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (Austin)
There are a couple of contenders, but A’ja Wilson is still the top dog in the WNBA until someone takes that title from her. The Las Vegas Aces star’s All-Star credentials are undeniable, and she plays an indispensable role for her team. She’s averaging 22.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.
A’ja Wilson is DOMINANT
37 PTS, 10 REB, 2 BLK… her 28th career 30-ball!
That’s 4th most in WNBA history. All-time greatness.#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/JYqHrtyzH2
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 17, 2025
Wilson sits in the top two in points, rebounds, and blocks, highlighting her ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. Her eight double-doubles are tied for third in the WNBA, and her 21.2 Player Impact Estimate (PIE) leads all players this season.
Wilson consistently draws double teams but still delivers in clutch moments. Her elite scoring, defense, and leadership make her an easy first selection for Team Austin.
Pick No. 3: G Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Austin)
This selection may be controversial, as Caitlin Clark has struggled lately, particularly as a shooter. Over her last five games, the Indiana Fever superstar averaged just 11.2 points per game, shooting 29.5% from the field and 19.4% from beyond the arc. To be fair, Clark has missed 10 games so far this season, so her inability to stay on the floor has likely impacted her efficiency.
Still, for the season, the 2024 Rookie of the Year averages 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 13 games. She ranks second in assists per game, behind only Alyssa Thomas, and she boasts the ninth-best offensive rating in the league (108.6).
While Clark’s struggles are concerning, this is just one game, and her skill set is perfect for an All-Star Game setting. Her deep range and playmaking abilities will make for a highly entertaining brand of basketball.
Note: Caitlin Clark will not be participating in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.
Pick No. 4: G Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Bergstrom)
Sabrina Ionescu is enjoying another strong campaign, earning her fourth straight All-Star appearance. The New York Liberty guard is averaging 18.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game.
She hasn’t been the most efficient scorer, though, shooting 38% from the field and 30.9% from deep. However, she’s shooting an elite 93.4% from the free-throw line. Ionescu is undoubtedly one of the league’s most dynamic offensive guards, evidenced by her back-to-back 34-point performances earlier in the year.
Ionescu has the league’s seventh-highest usage rate (28.2%), per WNBA.com. She’s also maintaining a strong 31.3% assist rate (11th). She doesn’t offer a ton on the defensive end of the floor, but her playmaking and scoring ability will be an asset for Team Bergstrom.
Pick No. 5: F Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty (Bergstrom)
Breanna Stewart is joining her Liberty teammate, boosting the lineup’s chemistry. Her age-30 season hasn’t been her most dominant campaign, but her numbers are still strong, speaking to just how good she is. Stewart averages 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over nearly 33 minutes per game.
The six-time All-Defensive Team selection has impacted both ends, recording 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, with 1.4 defensive win shares. Stewart has been the backbone of the Liberty this season, stepping up and providing steady production throughout Jonquel Jones’s extended absence.
A three-time WNBA champion, Stewart is one of the most versatile players in the league. She has posted positive on/off splits in each season of her nine-year career. She simply plays winning basketball, making her a fit for any lineup.
Pick No. 6: G Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream (Austin)
Quiet as kept, Allisha Gray may be the best all-around guard in the WNBA. The Atlanta Dream star has flourished under new head coach Karl Smesko, earning her first nod as an All-Star starter, and her third overall. She’s having a career year, averaging 18.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
Gray has also been highly efficient, shooting 44.3% from the field and 38.9% from three. She has a 19.7 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and the third-most win shares in the league this season (3.8).
Gray’s growth has been fun to watch. She has become a three-level scorer without sacrificing her defensive effort. She’s attempting a career-high 6.0 shots from behind the arc but still has a career-best 59.6% true shooting percentage.
Pick No. 7: G Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Austin)
Paige Bueckers wasted no time establishing herself as one of the league’s top guards in her first professional season. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Bueckers is averaging 18.3 points, 5.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game, ranking in the top 10 in points, assists, and steals.
Bueckers is one of just three players to average at least 18 points and five assists this year, joining Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu. The Dallas Wings have struggled, sitting near the bottom of the standings with a 6-17 record. However, the rookie’s performance has been one of the few bright spots.
Bueckers’ 20.6 PER is elite for a first-year player. Her ability to play at a high level on both ends of the floor and do so efficiently is remarkable. Having Clark, Gray, and Bueckers on the perimeter gives Team Austin three players who can create for themselves and their teammates.
Pick No. 8: C Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (Bergstrom)
Aliyah Boston has firmly established herself as an All-Star with one of the most impactful seasons of her rising career. The South Carolina product has taken on a crucial leadership role for the Fever, especially with Caitlin Clark in and out of the lineup.
Boston has reached new heights on offense, posting a career-high 15.6 points per game, with a 57.1% effective field goal percentage and a 61.4% true shooting percentage. Her 17.0 PIE is the best of her career and ranks fifth among all WNBA players this season.
Boston adds a defensive post presence, blocking 1.1 shots per game and accounting for 1.2 defensive win shares heading into the All-Star break. She’s also a consistent double-double threat, with eight so far (tied for third). Boston and Collier give Team Bergstrom a formidable paint duo.
Pick No. 9: G Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever (Bergstrom)
Kelsey Mitchell is the third Fever player who made the cut, and she’s playing in her third straight All-Star game. She has built up a reputation as one of the WNBA’s most dynamic scorers, averaging more than points per game for the second straight season.
HERstory for Kelz
last night, Kelsey Mitchell passed Tamika Catchings for the most three-pointers made in FRANCHISE history with 607 threes and counting. pic.twitter.com/7fZ5cGKMWD
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 17, 2025
Mitchell also shoots the ball efficiently, posting a 46.5% field goal percentage and a 36.6% 3-point percentage. She has scored at least 20 points in 11 games, providing a consistent scoring punch for Indiana during a period when the team has navigated lineup instability.
Even with Caitlin Clark on the team, Mitchell’s 26.6% usage rate is among the highest of her career. While she’s not known for dropping dimes, she has a respectable 16.2% assist rate. Regardless, Mitchell is a player who can get you a bucket when needed.
Pick No. 10: F Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury (Austin)
Satou Sabally has bounced back from her injury-shortened 2024 season in a big way. In her first season with the Phoenix Mercury, she’s averaging a career-high 19.1 points, plus 7.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
Sabally’s 32.6% usage rate is the highest of her career, and she’s thriving with the change of scenery. She hasn’t been as efficient as in years past, shooting just 39.0% from the field and 30.9% from three. However, her 21.6 PER and 15.4 PIE are strong indicators of her overall impact.
Sabally and Alyssa Thomas have helped propel Phoenix to one of the WNBA’s best records this season. Sabally’s ability to deliver in high-stakes moments and make plays on both ends of the floor illustrates why she is an All-Star and one of the most complete forwards in the league.
