The All-Star Game will take place next month, on July 19, in Indiana. And today, the captains for the teams that will showcase their talent on the court have been officially confirmed.
Fans selected their captains
Through their votes, WNBA fans chose who would serve as captains for the upcoming All-Star Game. It’s an extra reason for joy for the players selected as team leaders, a recognition that goes beyond performance-it reflects admiration.
Caitlin Clark, the fan favorite
The Indiana Fever guard, who has missed five games due to a groin injury, remains the darling of the league at just 22 years old.
With stellar performances whenever she’s healthy and playing at her peak, it’s hard not to be won over by her talent. Without a doubt, she is the current queen of the WNBA. And that’s why fans chose her to lead one of the All-Star teams.
Clark received a staggering 1,293,526 votes-an overwhelming number that simply highlights the incredible moment she’s experiencing in the league, despite her injury.
So far this season, Caitlin is averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game-the best numbers of her young WNBA career.
Last year, during her league debut, she also received the most votes, but the format was different back then. The top WNBA players faced off against the U.S. Olympic basketball team, so no captains were selected at that time.
Napheesa Collier, the league’s top scorer
On the other side, Napheesa Collier, who currently leads the league in points, finished just 100,000 votes behind Caitlin Clark. Still, she earned her spot as the captain of the opposing All-Star squad.
Her numbers are impressive: she’s averaging 24.5 points per game and ranks fourth in rebounds, with 8.9 per contest.
The other 10 All-Star starters
The remaining starters who will join Clark and Collier in the All-Star Game were chosen by WNBA players along with a panel of journalists. Fans also had a say in the selection.
Fan votes accounted for 50% of the decision-making process, while the other 50% was divided equally-25% from the media panel and 25% from the league’s players.
The team selection process
Both Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will pick the teammates who will join them on the court. Coaches will be allowed to choose 13 reserves after the starting lineups are selected.
The captains will first select eight players from the remaining starters before choosing the twelve reserves. The draft will set the stage for what promises to be one of the most exciting All-Star Games in recent memory.
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