WNBA Notebook: 2026 All-Star Snubs and who could make it as replacements
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- WNBA All-Star selections are influenced by factors beyond statistics, including fan votes, coach respect, and player injuries, leading to some surprising inclusions and snubs in the 2026 reserves announced Tuesday night.
- Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Angel Reese made the All-Star reserves, while Seattle Storm's Dominique Malonga earned her first All-Star nod despite not being initially considered by some analysts.
- Notable snubs include Veronica Burton of the Golden State Valkyries, who ranks high in win shares but was passed over for teammates and others with lower metrics, highlighting potential biases in selection.
- Alyssa Thomas, known for near triple-double averages, was surprisingly left out despite strong stats compared to Malonga, raising questions about the criteria coaches prioritize, including team success and popularity.
- Players like Brittney Sykes and Kahleah Copper, who have solid scoring and efficiency, were also excluded, with injuries playing a role in Sykes' omission, while Carla Leite may be considered as a replacement if injured players opt out.
