WNBA Names 10 All-Star Starters as Clark Finishes 11th in Player Voting

Q: Will recent player rivalries influence the honorary general managers' All-Star draft picks in Chicago?

Probably not in any formal or predictable way. The WNBA’s announced process gives Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon the job of drafting from the 22 players already chosen as All-Stars, after starters are set by fan, player and media voting and reserves are picked by coaches. Nothing in the league’s announcement suggests the honorary general managers are expected to account for recent player tensions or rivalries when building the two teams. Recent friction around players such as Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas has been one of the league’s biggest storylines, and broader debates over physicality between veterans and younger stars have added to that backdrop. But the available reporting does not show any link between those rivalries and how Cooper or Weatherspoon will make their selections in Chicago. In practice, the honorary GMs are more likely to draft with entertainment, balance and star power in mind. This is a showcase event in the league’s 30th anniversary season, and the special format appears designed to celebrate WNBA history rather than intensify current disputes. Cooper and Weatherspoon are both former players and coaches, so they may naturally consider chemistry, style of play and fan appeal, but that is different from drafting based on grudges. So while rivalries could shape the optics of certain pairings or create intrigue if opponents land on the same team, there is no factual basis yet to say they will drive the honorary general managers’ picks.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 2

Ten starters for the July 25 WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago were unveiled Thursday, led by A'ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers after combined fan, media and player voting.
Fifty percent of the result came from fans, with media and players each counting 25%, helping Clark secure a starting guard spot despite finishing 11th among guards in the player vote.
Indiana placed a league-high 3 starters — Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston — while Minnesota and Dallas each landed 2, with rookie Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard rewarded for the Lynx's 15-4 start.
Atlanta, despite a 12-7 record and fourth place, was the only top-seven team without a starter; Rhyne Howard finished fifth among guards after ranking second in player voting but ninth with fans.
Head coaches will now pick 12 reserves without voting for their own players, with the full 22-player event set for All-Star Weekend in Chicago on July 24-25.