History Made, Hearts Broken: Analyzing the 2026 WNBA All-Star Starters and the Biggest Snubs

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The voting is finalized, the weights have been calculated, and the starting lineups for the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game are officially locked in. Using a formula weighted by fans (50%), current players (25%), and a media panel (25%), the league has unveiled a starting ten that perfectly encapsulates the current era of women’s basketball: a thrilling mix of unstoppable MVPs, sophomore sensations, and box-office rookies.

While the announcement brought historic joy to Indianapolis and Dallas, it triggered massive debates across social media regarding the players left on the outside looking in.

The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game Starters

The Backcourt

Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings)
Olivia Miles (Minnesota Lynx)
Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)
Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)

The Frontcourt

A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
Jessica Shepard (Dallas Wings)
Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)
Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries)
Natasha Howard (Minnesota Lynx)

Why the Starters Earned Their Spots

1. The Historic Indiana Fever Trio

For the first time in WNBA history, a single franchise is sending three players to the All-Star starting lineup. The Indiana Fever completely dominated the fan vote. Aliyah Boston (the overall No. 1 fan vote-getter) and Caitlin Clark (No. 2 in fan votes, averaging 21.3 PPG and 8.2 APG) return to the big stage. They are joined by first-time starter Kelsey Mitchell, rewarding the veteran guard for her elite perimeter scoring and spacing that has anchored Indiana’s offense.

2. The New Wave of Dominance

The youth movement in the WNBA is no longer a glimpse into the future—it is the reality of the present. Dallas Wings star and reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers comfortably secured the top overall spot among guards, ranking 9th in the league in scoring (19.3 PPG). Right beside her is Minnesota’s sensational rookie Olivia Miles, who captured the No. 1 spot from the media vote by pacing all rookies in scoring and assists while leading the Lynx to the top tier of the standings.

3. Absolute Royalty and Breakout Stars

To nobody’s surprise, multi-time MVPs A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart secured their eighth career All-Star selections, leading the frontcourt voting. They are joined by two incredibly deserving first-timers:

Jessica Shepard (Dallas Wings): Shepard is having a career year, ranking second in the WNBA in rebounding (11.5 RPG) and leading the league with two triple-doubles.
Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries): Williams makes history as the first-ever All-Star representative for the expansion Valkyries, recognized by both her peers and the media for her elite, lockdown defensive play.

The Omissions: The Atlanta Dream “Snub” Crisis

Whenever a list is restricted to just 10 elite spots, heartbreak is inevitable. This year, the entire state of Georgia has a rightful grievance, as the Atlanta Dream—who sit comfortably in fourth place with a stellar 12-7 record—were completely shut out of the starting lineups.

The Angel Reese Conundrum: The most polarizing omission is undoubtedly Atlanta forward Angel Reese. Leading the league in rebounding (11.8 RPG), Reese was remarkably consistent across the board, finishing 6th in fan voting, 6th in media voting, and 6th in player voting among frontcourt players. However, because only six frontcourt slots are available, she missed out by mere percentage decimals to Natasha Howard.

Reese wasn’t the only Dream star left out in the cold. Her backcourt teammates suffered equally agonizing near-misses:

Rhyne Howard: Howard was heavily championed by those who understand the game intimately, ranking No. 2 among all WNBA players and No. 4 by the media. However, she was tanked by a 9th-place finish in the fan vote, dropping her to the first guard left off the roster.
Allisha Gray: Gray finished 7th in fans, 8th in media, and 6th in players, leaving her just one spot behind Mitchell for the final backcourt position.

What’s Next?

While the starting lineups are set, the rosters are far from finalized. WNBA head coaches will now begin voting for the 12 All-Star reserves, where names like Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Kelsey Plum are expected to easily lock up their spots.

Once the pool of 22 All-Stars is complete, the league will celebrate its 30th season in style. Hall of Fame legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon will serve as honorary general managers, drafting their respective teams live from the ultimate collection of basketball talent.