One week after saying Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier because the 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport captains, the league launched the remaining listing of gamers who will fill out the rosters. Whereas most gamers rightfully obtained the nod, the occasion excluded a couple of notable names, as is normally the case.
For the primary time, the league will observe the NBA’s format, during which captains draft gamers from the eligible pool to fill out their competing groups. Clark, who broke the WNBA file for essentially the most All-Star votes of all time, will lead Staff Clark. Collier, who obtained essentially the most votes from the Western Convention, will oppose her because the captain of Staff Collier.
Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu and Allisha Grey be part of Clark because the beginning guards. Collier tops the listing of the six beginning forwards, joined by A’ja Wilson, Nneka Ogwumike, Satou Sabally, Breanna Stewart and Aliyah Boston. Bueckers, the highest decide of the 2025 WNBA Draft, is the lone starter receiving her first All-Star nod.
The WNBA additionally launched a listing of 11 reserves. Kelsey Plum headlined the reserve guards, which additionally included Skylar Diggins, Rhyne Howard, Gabby Williams, Kelsey Mitchell, Jackie Younger and Sonia Citron. Alyssa Thomas topped the obtainable reserve forwards, joined by Angel Reese, Kayla Thornton and Kiki Iriafen. The Washington Mystics’ Iriafen and Citron joined Bueckers because the three rookies taking part within the sport.
As normal, the 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport will characteristic 21 of the league’s finest gamers. Nonetheless, for one purpose or one other, a number of gamers making admirable impacts early within the season had been inappropriately left off the rosters. Whereas accidents might change availability, listed below are our 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport roster snubs on the time of the announcement.
5. C Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream are already sending two gamers to the 2025 WNBA All-Star sport, with guards Howard and Grey representing them in Indianapolis. Nonetheless, contemplating the season Brionna Jones is having, they’ve a robust case for doubtlessly including her to the listing.
Jones, a three-time All-Star, most just lately obtained the honour in 2024 and is presently posting improved numbers throughout the board in 2025. In her first yr with the Dream, the 29-year-old is averaging 14.0 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals per sport whereas taking pictures 51 p.c from the ground. Jones is presently the league’s seventh-leading rebounder.
All the eye on Atlanta’s early-season success is on its guards, however the staff’s complete focus has been inside. The Dream signed Jones and Griner within the offseason to type one of the crucial imposing frontcourt duos within the league. The funding has paid off, however nearly all of the credit score goes to Jones. After averaging 17.8 factors per sport in 2024, Griner has largely upset with simply 9.9 factors per sport by way of her first 16 video games.
Jones won’t be the most effective middle within the league, however she is inarguably one of the crucial constant. Her effectivity is an enormous purpose behind the Dream’s scorching begin. She seemingly ought to have obtained the nod over Thornton or Iriafen, who’ve every had excellent seasons to date however will not be as impactful as Jones is.
4. PF/C Azura Stevens, Los Angeles Sparks
After sitting out many of the 2024 season, Azura Stevens has already began as many video games by way of the primary two months of 2025 as she did all of final yr. She has made an emphatic return to date, promptly reminding the league that she is among the finest forwards when wholesome.
Via the primary half of the yr, Stevens is averaging career-highs throughout the board, posting 14.8 factors, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks per sport. Her resurgence has been a welcome sight for the Los Angeles Sparks, who lacked a formidable paint presence in 2024 following Cameron Brink’s ACL harm. Brink’s impending return might finally reduce into Stevens’ minutes, however for now, she has quietly developed into among the finest frontcourt gamers within the league.
Not solely is Stevens the league’s third-leading rebounder, however she has additionally been among the finest two-way gamers in 2025. The Sparks nonetheless leak factors within the paint, however the 6-foot-6 Stevens has slowly turn into among the finest shot-blockers within the WNBA.
Like Jones, Stevens seemingly must be on the reserves listing over Iriafen and Thornton. Stevens has additionally been higher than Reese in each different class, besides rebounding. All components thought of, Stevens’ all-around sport makes her one of many largest 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport roster snubs.
3. PG Natasha Cloud, New York Liberty
Simply from trying on the stat sheet, Natasha Cloud doesn’t look like an All-Star. She solely averages 10.1 factors per sport and is the fourth offensive choice on a wholesome New York Liberty squad. Nonetheless, regardless of becoming a member of the staff within the offseason, Cloud is arguably the defending champion’s most necessary participant.
Cloud has totally taken over as the first facilitator, averaging 6.2 assists per sport. The veteran guard is the clear chief of New York’s elite offense, however she is doubtlessly much more impactful on protection. Cloud continues to be one of many premier perimeter defenders within the WNBA, averaging 1.5 steals per sport. The previous All-Defensive first-team guard is as bodily and tenacious as she has ever been in her profession, regardless of taking part in her age-33 season.
With out Cloud, the Liberty wouldn’t be the place they presently are. Their offense follows the lead of Stewart and Ionescu, however the entire staff goes so far as Cloud takes them. Each time the staff is in bother, it turns to Cloud, and never Stewart or Ionescu. Whereas New York is clearly scuffling with Jonquel Jones’ prolonged absence, it will be in a fair worse place with out its level guard.
Cloud doesn’t have the scoring numbers to match any of the present All-Star guards, however she is exponentially extra necessary to the Liberty than both Jackie Younger or Courtney Williams are to their respective squads. Younger and Williams deserve their spots, however no more than Cloud.
2. PF/C Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks
Coming off her third All-Star look in 2024, Dearica Hamby continues to be bettering in yr 11. It took Hamby nearly no time to regulate to the Sparks’ new-look roster, as she seamlessly adjusted her sport to slot in with Kelsey Plum and the returning Stevens. Via 19 video games, Hamby is averaging 17.0 factors, 7.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per sport.
With the Sparks’ 2024 season shortly falling aside, Hamby’s sport skyrocketed to a brand new degree. Los Angeles continues to be removed from title competition, nevertheless it has already matched its 2024 win whole on the season’s halfway level. Regardless, Hamby has continued to play at an elite degree and is bettering in a number of areas.
Her scoring and rebounding numbers are down a contact, however Hamby is averaging career-highs in assists, steals and blocks. She can also be hitting 53.7 p.c of her photographs from the ground, the second-best mark of her decade-long profession. Whereas accepting extra facilitating duties, Hamby additional managed to lower her turnovers from a career-worst 3.0 in 2024 to 2.8 in 2025.
Because the league’s 14th main scorer and tenth main rebounder, Hamby is one in all simply 5 gamers to rank within the high 15 of each classes. The opposite 4 — Wilson, Collier, Sabally and Ogwumike — will all be within the All-Star Sport. Hamby’s numbers counsel she is an elite ahead and one of many largest 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport roster snubs.
1. PG/SG Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics
Averaging a career-high 17.9 factors and 4.6 assists per sport, no participant was snubbed from the 2025 All-Star roster greater than Brittney Sykes. Regardless of being one of the crucial dynamic guards within the league since becoming a member of the Mystics in 2023, an All-Star nod continues to evade Sykes, and the pattern one way or the other continues in 2025.
Sykes is clearly among the finest scorers within the league — averaging the Eleventh-most factors per sport — however has taken her sport to a brand new degree in 2025. Along with posting personal-best help numbers, Sykes can also be taking pictures a career-high 37.5 p.c from deep. She has all the time been elite off the bounce, however is now among the finest three-level scorers within the league.
Accidents beforehand stored Sykes off the All-Star roster, however they haven’t been a difficulty in 2025. After taking part in simply 18 video games in 2024, she has solely missed three of the Mystics’ first 18 video games in her ninth season. Sykes was frustratingly inconsistent early in her profession, resulting in an up-and-down first eight years, however she has lastly hit her stride. It’s a disgrace the league didn’t reward her with the All-Star nod she undoubtedly earned.
There are numerous proficient guards within the WNBA, however few are undoubtedly forward of Sykes. Nonetheless, essentially the most puzzling side of her dismissal is the inclusion of rookies Iriafen and Citron. Each have been undeniably excellent to start their careers, however Sykes is objectively Washington’s finest participant. Iriafen made the reduce as a ahead, however it’s tough to see the place Citron deserved the nod over Sykes. The Mystics will gladly ship their two younger stars to Indianapolis, however Sykes is definitely the most important WNBA All-Star roster snub of the yr.