ALL STAR SNUB: Which players should’ve been considered as All-Star starters?
The votes are in, and the All-Stars have been named.
We also know who will be starting when the All-Star teams take the court in Chicago on July 25.
So, who was snubbed? Who has a legitimate argument as a would-be starter that, instead, will be a reserve?
Was Angel Reese snubbed as an All-Star starter? pic.twitter.com/VuBUbMRrwn
— Real App (@realapp) July 2, 2026
Like her or not, and she has her haters, Angel Reese is spot-on when saying it was “disrespectful” not to have a member of the Eastern Conference co-leading Atlanta Dream in the starting lineup. Especially if there are three players in the starting lineup from the seventh-place Indiana Fever.
This shouldn’t be a popularity contest; it should be who’s put together the best first half of the season. But, All-Star starters are named by a weighted formula, with fans controlling 50 percent of the score. And herein lies the problem.
Perhaps rather than giving players and media 25 percent of the votes, each, give them each 40 and let the fans who tend to find their way into every social-media argument, just to defend their favorite player – even if they’re clueless and wrong – have the other 20 percent.
Reese’s teammates, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray landed fifth and sixth in the voting among guards, respectively. Reese finished seventh among frontcourt players.
“I expect to be disrespected,” Reese told assembled media during her pregame media availability Thursday night. “For those two, though, I think they work so hard, and they put a lot of work in, and the way that they’re guarded every game … they adjust. The reason why we’re where we are is because of those two.”
Gray and Howard aren’t the only two responsible for the Dream’s rise to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, where they’re tied for first with the New York Liberty.
Reese said a mouthful about her teammates, so there’s no need to repeat her agreed-upon sentiments. And if Kelsey Plum and Brittney Sykes weren’t injured, they’d certainly be in the conversation.
But…
WHAT ABOUT THEM?
MARINA MABREY
Forget for a moment the Toronto Tempo veteran tied the all-time single-game scoring record with her 53-point performance in a 28-point win against the Los Angeles Sparks, she ranks third in the league with 21.2 points per game, along with Caitlin Clark. But, Mabrey is doing it playing 28.6 minutes per game while Clark is at 30.8 mpg. And since fellow veteran Brittney Sykes and rookie Kiki Rice went down with injuries, it’s been Mabrey taking charge to keep the Tempo relevant in the conversation for the eighth and final spot of the playoff race.
KAHLEAH COPPER
Phoenix’s superstar guard ranks fifth in the league with 20.6 points per game on 40.6 percent shooting, while adding 4.0 rebounds per contest. She’s been on a tear of late, scoring 20 or more points in six of the last seven games, including 30 in Thursday night’s 23-point win over the Seattle Storm. The Mercury looked dead in the water not too long ago, but have suddenly won three straight and are talking about making a run into the postseason. And by the way, let’s not forget about who helped lead the Sky to the 2021 title and won the Finals MVP. She may be getting her mail in Phoenix now, but the Chicago crowd would have loved to hear Copper’s name when the starting lineup was announced.
NNEKA OGWUMIKE
There may not be an All-Star game if not for the concerted efforts of the WNBPA board, led by the Madame President. That said, this isn’t about what was done before the season; it’s about what we’ve seen on the court. And at 36, Ogwumike is enjoying a productive season that could very well end up being a top-five campaign from her highly decorated career. Among forwards, she’s scoring 16.2 points and grabbing 8.5 rebounds per contest. She’s scored in double digits in all but one game she’s played this season, and already has six double-doubles. If respect is to be given to any one player in particular, during All-Star weekend of the 30th Anniversary season, it’s Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria Ogwumike.
ANGEL REESE
The ATL Barbie spoke about her teammates and didn’t utter a word about herself. But Reese may have an argument of her own, as she’s one of two players averaging a double-double this season, leading the league in rebounds (11.6) while ranking 24th in scoring (14.8 points per game). If – a VERY BIG IF – this is a popularity contest, then Reese should have been considered for two reasons: she’s one of the faces of the future, and she’s a double-double machine.
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
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