headtopics
Evaluating WNBA All-Star Rosters: Aja Wilson, Caitlin Clark Team Up Against Paige Bueckers With the rosters set for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, heres a look at both sides as we evaluate which team may have the edge.
Aja Wilson and Caitlin Clark will be on Team Spoon in the WNBA All-Star Game | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe two leading vote-getters from the fan vote were assigned to one of the All-Star general managers ahead of the draft.
Paige Bueckers, who led the fan ballot, landed with Cooper while Caitlin Clark was assigned to Weatherspoon.
Cooper and Weatherspoon went back and forth to fill out their starting lineups and reserves from the predetermined group of All-Stars.
Its a stacked group highlighted by Aja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Mitchell and rookie standout Olivia Miles.Jessica Shepard, Marina Mabrey and Domonique Malonga join Miles as first-time All-Stars, while young stars like Angel Reese, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen also made the cut.
With any group of All-Stars comes a list of snubs that were on the outside looking in.
This year, thewere Alyssa Thomas, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper and Veronica Burton.The 10 All-Star starters were determined by fan, media and player voting while the 12 reserves were selected by the leagues 15 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
With the pool of 22 All-Stars determined, Cooper and Weatherspoon selected their rosters in a draft show broadcast on ESPN on Wednesday.Heres how it all went down:Paige Bueckers led the fan vote for the WNBA All-Star Game | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect With Bueckers assigned to Coopers team as the top vote-getter and Clark on Weatherspoons squad, Weatherspoon got the first pick from the rest of the starters.
She took Aces superstar and four-time MVP Aja Wilson first before Cooper took two-time MVP Breanna Stewart with her first selection.The draft order gave Cooper the first pick from the group of reserves.
She took Dream star Angel Reese at the top of the reserve group, then Weatherspoon took Reeses Atlanta teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray as her first reserve picks.
Gabby Williams is an All-Star starter as she leads the 177 Valkyries | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect At the top of the rosters, the matchup between Bueckers and Clark steals the show.The star guards each have top-seven marks in both scoring and assists across the WNBA.
Clarks squad is aided by Wilson, the leagues leading scorer this season at 25.5 points per game.
Team Spoons starting lineup is rounded out by Miles, Shepard and Aliyah Boston, Clarks Fever teammate.
Clark and Boston are a dynamic pick-and-roll duo each game.Now that you add Wilson to that duo, watch out.
Miles is already one of the WNBAs top players in her first season.
Shes a top-10 scorer at 19.4 points per game as shes helped lead the Lynx to a league-best 196 record all without Napheesa Collier.
Clark and Miles are two of the most exciting playmakers across the leaguewatching them play next to each other will be undoubtedly fun.Shepard has been one of the best all-around players this year, too, as she leads the league in triple-doubles.
She has three triple-doubles, while no other player has recorded one thus far.
Weatherspoons bench unit is stacked as well with Howard and Gray at the top.
They bring the scoring punch while Iriafen, Jonquel Jones and Nneka Ogwumike add premier frontcourt depth.Miless Lynx teammate Courtney Williams is on the roster also.
Shes led Minnesota alongside Miles, Kayla McBride and Natasha Howard without Collier in the mix.
On the other side, Team Coops star power is just as strong.
Bueckers will have Stewart, Howard, Kelsey Mitchell and Gabby Williams beside her in the first five.The All-Star Game will put Indianas star guards against each other in Clark and Mitchell.
Mitchell is the WNBAs leading scorer besides Wilson as shes averaged a career-high 22.7 points per game.
Shes done that while shooting a whopping 40.9% from three-point range, too.
The Valkyries are a true title threat in their second WNBA season, thanks largely to Williamss standout season.She makes her second All-Star appearance in a row and her first with Golden State after she joined the franchise as a free agent over the offseason.
With the Valks, shes put up 15.0 points per gamea career-high mark by more than three points per game.
Team Coops bench unit has more scoring power compared to Team Spoon with Marina Mabrey, Jackie Young, Sonia Citron and Kelsey Plum.
Plum has been out since June 21 with a leg injury.She was slated to miss four weeks which puts her recovery right up against the All-Star festivities in Chicago.
It doesnt make much sense to let her go unless she returns before the All-Star Game.
That creates a potential opening for one of the snubs, which could bring even more scoring to Team Coop.In addition to the scoring, Reese and Malonga make a defensive force behind the already elite frontcourt of Howard, Williams and Stewart.
Both rosters are extremely talented and in an All-Star format, the game can go either way.
On paper, however, Team Spoon gets the nod due to the superstar trio of Clark, Wilson and Miles.Bueckers, Mitchell and Stewart stack up nicely, but two of the leagues best facilitators next to the top scorer gives Weatherspoons squad a slight edge.
Clark didnt participate in the All-Star Game last year due to injury, which makes this years contest quite exciting.
Fans will get to watch Clark play alongside Wilson and next to Miles in the backcourt, whos in the midst ofThis year also marks the first All-Star Game where Bueckers and Clark square off.Although its a lighthearted environment, the star guards will certainly play to winhopefully exchanging deep threes in the process.
Blake Silverman is a writer at Sports Illustrated, primarily covering the NBA and WNBA.
Before joining SI in November 2024 as a breaking/trending news writer, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation and A10Talk.Hes an alum of both Michigan State and St.
Bonaventure University, receiving a masters degree from the Bonnies sports journalism program.
Outside of work, hes a husband, father, yogi and fairly mediocre tennis player whos open to any tips on how to play defense in EA Sports College Football.