2026 WNBA All-Star Starters: Clark's Historic Run
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- Caitlin Clark is the only player in the WNBA ranked top-five in scoring (5th), assists (2nd), and three-pointers (5th), and just posted at least 20 points and five assists in six straight games — the longest such streak in league history, per the media voter.
- Paige Bueckers has built on her 2025 Rookie of the Year campaign, ranking 8th in scoring and 7th in assists while becoming the fourth-fastest player ever to 1,000 career points (52 games) and the fastest to reach 1,000 points and 250 assists.
- Kelsey Plum was on pace for 23.9 points per game (potentially the sixth-highest single-season average in WNBA history) before a left leg injury announced Tuesday by the Sparks ruled her out for at least four weeks, effectively ending her All-Star hopes.
- Jessica Shepard has emerged as a triple-double threat, joining Alyssa Thomas as the only players in WNBA history to record a 20/20/10 game (22 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists vs. the Aces in May) and ranking 2nd in the league in win shares (3.4).
- Natasha Howard is staging a late-career renaissance in Minnesota, ranking 2nd in field goal percentage and 3rd in steals while on pace to become just the fourth player in WNBA history to average 15+ points on 60%+ shooting.
- Alyssa Thomas leads the league in assists for the second straight season despite a 6-13 Mercury team in danger of missing the playoffs the year after a Finals run, with her individual production nearly identical to her third-place 2025 MVP finish.
- Breanna Stewart is set for her eighth All-Star appearance (tying Seimone Augustus, Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, and Lisa Leslie for seventh-most all-time) and remains the only player besides A'ja Wilson ranked top-15 in scoring, rebounding, steals, and blocks.
- Rookie Miles, the No. 2 overall pick, has surpassed Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers as the fastest player ever to 300 points and 100 assists (18 games) and broke Clark's rookie record for three-pointers, powering a 14-4 Lynx start without Napheesa Collier.
Why it matters: With no player captains in 2026, the top fan vote-getters are no longer guaranteed starters — making the media and player ballots (each 25% of the final tally) more decisive than in past years. Clark's production now drives 42.5% of Fever scoring on a per-game basis, an organizational dependency that elevates her All-Star case beyond raw numbers and raises the stakes of her recent back issues.
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