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The WNBA All-Star Game rosters are set as Chicago becomes the center of the women's basketball universe on July 24 and 25.
Phoenix Mercury forward Kahleah Cooper was named to the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game on July 22 as a replacement for injured Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, taking her spot on Team Coop. Under league rules, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert names replacements for injured All-Stars.
Copper was arguably the most glaring omission when reserves were announced two weeks ago. She ranks seventh in the league in scoring at a team-leading 20.5 points per game. Copper had a career-high 41 against the Sparks on June 13.
The selection is the fifth for Copper, 31, who made four straight All-Star Games from 2021 to 2024, a run that included the 2021 Finals MVP award with Chicago and an Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games. Now, in her 11th WNBA season, she returns to the All-Star stage in the city where she spent seven years of her career.
Plum's absence is unfortunate given the Sparks guard was among the league's leading scorers at 23.9 points per game before a lower-left leg injury last month.
With the addition of the Mercury star, three teams will not be represented at the All-Star Game: the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun and Portland Fire.
The All-Star Game is Saturday at the United Center in Chicago (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC, Disney+) with rosters drafted by league legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon as part of the WNBA's 30th anniversary.
Head Coach: Becky Hammon
General Manager: Cynthia Cooper
Golden State Valkyries F Gabby Williams: The UConn product received her second All-Star nod and was selected a starter for the first time. Williams is averaging a career high in scoring with 15.9 points per game in her first year with the Valkyries.
Dallas Wings G Paige Bueckers: The 2025 reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year is having a strong sophomore campaign, averaging 19.9 points, 5.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game through 18 starts, all while shooting 51% from the floor. The 24-year-old UConn product has led the Wings' turnaround season, and the team's 11 victories at the halfway point surpass last year's total (10) win mark. Bueckers became the fastest player in WNBA history to hit 1,000 points and 250 assists last month.
New York Liberty F Breanna Stewart: The 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup MVP is leading the Liberty in points (19.2), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.3) in her 10th season in the league while ranking second in rebounds (8.5). Stewart has scored in double-digits in all but one game this season and her seven double-doubles is tied for the fifth-most in the league. It marks Stewart's eight All-Star nod.
Indiana Fever G Kelsey Mitchell: She earned her fourth consecutive selection as an All-Star starter. Mitchell was drafted No. 1 overall in 2018 out of Ohio State. She is averaging 21.6 points a game to lead the Fever. Indiana's all-time leading scorer, Mitchell has 11 games with at least 20 points this season.
Minnesota Lynx F Natasha Howard: The 6-foot-2 forward picked up her third All-Star nod and first since 2022 amid a renaissance season. Howard's 17.7 points per game is the second-highest mark of her career, second only to her 2019 DPOY campaign. Her stat line is rounded out by career highs in rebounds (8.2), steals (1.9) and field-goal percentage (61.1%).
*-Injury replacement for Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum
Head Coach: Cheryl Reeve
General Manager: Teresa Weatherspoon
USA TODAY's Kristie Ackert and Cydney Henderson contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA corrects biggest All-Star snub with Kahleah Copper selection
Continue reading...
Phoenix Mercury forward Kahleah Cooper was named to the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game on July 22 as a replacement for injured Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, taking her spot on Team Coop. Under league rules, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert names replacements for injured All-Stars.
Copper was arguably the most glaring omission when reserves were announced two weeks ago. She ranks seventh in the league in scoring at a team-leading 20.5 points per game. Copper had a career-high 41 against the Sparks on June 13.
The selection is the fifth for Copper, 31, who made four straight All-Star Games from 2021 to 2024, a run that included the 2021 Finals MVP award with Chicago and an Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games. Now, in her 11th WNBA season, she returns to the All-Star stage in the city where she spent seven years of her career.
Plum's absence is unfortunate given the Sparks guard was among the league's leading scorers at 23.9 points per game before a lower-left leg injury last month.
With the addition of the Mercury star, three teams will not be represented at the All-Star Game: the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun and Portland Fire.
The All-Star Game is Saturday at the United Center in Chicago (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC, Disney+) with rosters drafted by league legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon as part of the WNBA's 30th anniversary.
WNBA All-Star rosters
Team Coop
Head Coach: Becky Hammon
General Manager: Cynthia Cooper
Starters
Golden State Valkyries F Gabby Williams: The UConn product received her second All-Star nod and was selected a starter for the first time. Williams is averaging a career high in scoring with 15.9 points per game in her first year with the Valkyries.
Dallas Wings G Paige Bueckers: The 2025 reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year is having a strong sophomore campaign, averaging 19.9 points, 5.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game through 18 starts, all while shooting 51% from the floor. The 24-year-old UConn product has led the Wings' turnaround season, and the team's 11 victories at the halfway point surpass last year's total (10) win mark. Bueckers became the fastest player in WNBA history to hit 1,000 points and 250 assists last month.
New York Liberty F Breanna Stewart: The 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup MVP is leading the Liberty in points (19.2), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.3) in her 10th season in the league while ranking second in rebounds (8.5). Stewart has scored in double-digits in all but one game this season and her seven double-doubles is tied for the fifth-most in the league. It marks Stewart's eight All-Star nod.
Indiana Fever G Kelsey Mitchell: She earned her fourth consecutive selection as an All-Star starter. Mitchell was drafted No. 1 overall in 2018 out of Ohio State. She is averaging 21.6 points a game to lead the Fever. Indiana's all-time leading scorer, Mitchell has 11 games with at least 20 points this season.
Minnesota Lynx F Natasha Howard: The 6-foot-2 forward picked up her third All-Star nod and first since 2022 amid a renaissance season. Howard's 17.7 points per game is the second-highest mark of her career, second only to her 2019 DPOY campaign. Her stat line is rounded out by career highs in rebounds (8.2), steals (1.9) and field-goal percentage (61.1%).
Reserves
- Atlanta Dream F Angel Reese
- Toronto Tempo G Marina Mabrey
- Seattle Storm C Dominique Malonga
- Las Vegas Aces G Jackie Young
- Washington Mystics G Sonia Citron
- Phoenix MercuryGKahleah Copper *
*-Injury replacement for Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum
Team Spoon
Head Coach: Cheryl Reeve
General Manager: Teresa Weatherspoon
Starters
- Indiana Fever G Caitlin Clark: The 6-foot guard is averaging career highs in points (21.2), field-goal percentage (43.0%) and 3-point percentage (34.4), and her 8.2 assists per game is second only to Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. Clark has scored in double-digits in all but one game this season and she's doing so efficiently. Her 4.6 turnovers per game marks the lowest average of her career.
- Las Vegas Aces C A'ja Wilson: Wilson leads the league in scoring (25.7 points per game) and blocks (2.0 per game), averaging 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 19 games (all starts). Wilson has recorded double-digit points in every game this season, including a 45-point performance against the Connecticut Sun on May 15. She's grabbed 15 rebounds in four games this season.
- Minnesota Lynx G Olivia Miles: Miles has been the bus driver for the Lynx, powering them to a WNBA-best 15-4 record this season. The New Jersey native leads all rookies in scoring (18.7 ppg) and assists (5.7 ppg), which ranks ninth and eighth in the league, respectively. Miles hit a record eight 3-pointers in the Lynx's 87-84 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on June 5 to break Caitlin Clark's rookie record for 3-pointers in a game.
- Indiana Fever C Aliyah Boston: Boston earned her fourth consecutive All-Star nod after averaging a career-high 17 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists, while shooting 50.2% from the field. And the 6-foot-5 center has been developing her 3-point shot. She's shooting a career-high 42.6% from deep and her 20 made 3-pointers surpasses last year's total (six) only 18 games into the season.
- Dallas Wings F Jessica Shepard: Shepard's career year has resulted in her first All-Star nod. The 6-foot-4 forward is averaging career highs in points (14.3), rebounds (11.5) and assists (5.4) after sliding into the starting lineup for the Wings this season. Shepard owns the only two triple-doubles of the season thus far.
Reserves
- Atlanta Dream G Rhyne Howard
- Atlanta Dream G Allisha Gray
- New York Liberty F Jonquel Jones
- Minnesota LynxG Courtney Williams
- Washington Mystics F Kiki Iriafen
- Los Angeles Sparks F Nneka Ogwumike
USA TODAY's Kristie Ackert and Cydney Henderson contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA corrects biggest All-Star snub with Kahleah Copper selection
Continue reading...
