When it comes to All-Stars, there are some no-brainer choices.WNBA The team is an honor given to the best 10 players in the league as voted on by members of the media. A'ja Wilson, who is having the best season of her career, is one of them. Napheesa Collier is another. Rookie phenom Caitlin Clark is also a candidate after a stellar second half of the season. The second team was a little harder to choose because there were only five spots. There are a lot of great players and a lot of players putting up big numbers.
The people I chose are:
All-WNBA First Team
- Aja WilsonLas Vegas Aces
- Napheesa CollierMinnesota Lynx
- Caitlin ClarkIndiana Fever
- Breanna Stewartt, New York Liberty
- Alyssa ThomasThe Connecticut Sun
The first team is relatively simple, featuring the best players from five of the top six teams in the league (sorry Seattle Storm).
A'ja Wilson is the MVP front-runner, Napheesa Collier is having an MVP-caliber season by any standard, Breanna Stewart is not only solid but the best player on the best team in the league, and Alyssa Thomas is an anchor for the Connecticut Sun and actually More efficient This year is better than last: Wilson, Collier, Stewart and Thomas all return to the All-WNBA First Team for the second straight year.
Caitlin Clark is a new addition, but given her play since the Olympic break, it's hard to leave her off the list. She has been the Indiana Fever's most impactful player and has delivered the ball at a level never before seen in the WNBA.
All-WNBA Second Team
- Kalea CopperPhoenix Mercury
- Kelsey MitchellIndiana Fever
- Nneka OgwumikeSeattle Storm
- Sabrina IonescuNew York Liberty
- Jonquel JonesNew York Liberty
As for the All-WNBA Second Team, it's a more complicated situation because there are a lot of players having great individual seasons, so we also took team success into account.
Kalia Copper was the league's third-leading scorer this season and was recognized as the Mercury's most consistent player.
Kelsey Mitchell is the seventh-leading scorer in the league and has been the second-leading scorer since the Olympic hiatus. She has also been the Fever's second-most impactful player, averaging 24.8 points on 50.2% shooting since the hiatus.
Nneka Ogwumike has been the Storm's most reliable player and it was no surprise that Seattle was selected to the All-WNBA team as the No. 5 seed. She is averaging 16.7 points per game and is playing extremely efficiently, shooting 50.9% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range.
Putting Sabrina Ionescu on the All-WNBA team over Kayla McBride was perhaps the toughest decision. Ionescu is shooting just 39.8% from the field this season, and the Liberty has two other players who have better combined numbers. Still, her improved playmaking and defense make her worthy of All-WNBA inclusion.
Jonquel Jones has been a key part of the Liberty defense and has been efficient offensively, averaging 14.4 points and shooting 53.8% from the field, and Stewart would not have been as effective defensively without Jones protecting the rim.
Honorable Mention
- Kayla McBrideMinnesota Lynx
- Dearica HambyLos Angeles Sparks
- Skylar Diggins SmithSeattle Storm
- Kelsey PlumLas Vegas Aces
- Brittney GrinerPhoenix Mercury
- Breonna JonesThe Connecticut Sun
Dearica Hamby had a great individual season, but it wasn't enough to warrant a spot on the All-WNBA team considering her team, the Sparks, finished with the worst record in the league.
Skylar Diggins-Smith has been arguably the Storm's most impactful player since the Olympics, ranking fourth-most in assists per game (6.4) and in the top 20 in scoring, but it hasn't been enough to overcome a slow start to the year and make All-WNBA.
Brittney Griner was efficient, averaging 18 points per game and could have been an All-WNBA candidate, but the Mercury's fall to the seventh seed puts her in a weak position.
As for aces, both Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young are worthy of consideration, but neither has been consistent enough to dislodge the other Second Team All-WNBA names.
The Lynx were the best team in the league since the break, finishing second overall on the year, and McBride was the second-best player on the team. She would have been a favorite if not for a statistical dip in the second half of the season.
If the Suns had a second All-WNBA player, it would be Breonna Jones, who has been impactful both defensively and defensively, and has been especially dominant as of late.
Arike Ogunbowale is the second-leading scorer in the league this season, but the Dallas Wings missed the playoffs and she's shooting just 38.3% from the field. Jewel Loyd has also been far too inefficient (averaging 19.7 points on 36% shooting). Chennedy Carter has been very efficient (17.5 points on 48.7% shooting) and would be considered for this list if the Sky had a better season overall.
