When Commissioner Cathy Engelbert handed over the MVP trophy to JJ back in 2021, she was on top of the W’s world. Not only because it was a huge honor, but also because she hoped that moment would finally be her breakthrough, a signal to brands and media that she was worth it. But, “There hasn’t been anything,” she admitted months later, as endorsement deals never came and the silence lingered. And it wasn’t for lack of personality or story, as JJ has both in abundance. But as she once put it herself, “It’s all a popularity contest and politics in WBB. In MBB you just gotta be the best. In WBB you gotta be the best player, best looking, most marketable, most IG followers…” It has been four years since then, but the snubs and heartbreak continue.

Not quite. It all came to a head on Sunday, when JJ – someone all too familiar with being overlooked – had to swallow that bitter pill once again. Despite everything she’s accomplished, she was left off even the list of a dozen reserves for the 2025 All-Star Game, missing out on what could’ve been her sixth appearance. And just like before, the 2024 Finals MVP wasn’t about to take it lying down. So, after NY Liberty’s 79-70 win over the Seattle Storm, she laid bare her disappointment. “Nothing worse than playing like an All-Star and not being one,” Jones wrote. “With that being said, thanks to all the people who took the time to vote for me, and congratulations to all the All-Stars this year.”

Of course, she has every reason to feel that way. It’s JJ’s third season with the Liberty, one that’s been interrupted by medical setbacks, mainly centered around her ankle injury, which has kept her off the court since June 19 after she re-tweaked it during a loss to the Mercury. Still, no one can deny the force she’s been throughout her career. She’s a five-time All-Star, the 2021 WNBA MVP, led the Liberty to their first-ever championship title, and was even named the Commissioner’s Cup MVP in 2023. And even in a season marred by injuries, she’s still averaging 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds across the nine games she’s played. So, it’s clear, that JJ has proven her worth at every step.

So, as the Liberty geared up for their eight-game homestand, Sunday marking the second leg, JJ held out hope that she’d make it in through the reserve picks, which are decided by WNBA head coaches. “I’m not going to lie about it—I’m really upset,” Jones admitted. “It was my one personal goal for the season. Everything else has been about the team.” She wasn’t among the 10 All-Star starters, even though her Liberty teammates Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart were. And fans clearly backed her too, JJ ranked 19th in fan voting with 354,669 votes, ahead of Kamilla Cardoso, Alyssa Thomas, Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, Damiris Dantas, and even Brittney Griner.

But as we know, fan votes only account for 50% of the selection, with 25% from media, and 25% from players completing the weighted formula. And that’s where things likely went wrong. “I’ve got my fingers crossed. Maybe I still make it as a reserve—I don’t know. But we’ll see,” she had said ahead of the announcement. “But I’m definitely upset about not being elected a starter. I was obviously playing well enough to be an All-Star again, and it’s something I expect of myself every year. But if I’m not, I’m definitely going to be very upset.”

So, it’s heartbreaking, for one of the best centers in the WNBA, no less. But as painful as it is, JJ’s not alone in feeling this way!

When stats, impact, and fan love still aren’t enough…

Well, Alyssa Thomas finished 21st in first returns of fan voting with 96,141 votes and ranked only 10th among frontcourt players via weighted rankings, despite averaging 14.3 points per game, along with nine assists and 7.3 rebounds. So, she wasn’t named to the starting five. That’s why fans called it a joke!

Then there’s Angel Reese, who placed 5th in frontcourt fan voting but dropped to 12th in both media and player voting, which caused a dip in her overall weighted total. Despite leading the league with 12.6 rebounds per game, she still missed a starter’s spot – a major surprise for the 2024 All-Star lineup.

Even Brionna Jones, a three-time All-Star who has been averaging 14 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, and ranks among the top in offensive boards, was left off the squad entirely. Dream’s GM even called her exclusion “one of the most ridiculous things” she had seen. Clearly, the traditional All-Star format has resulted in several questionable snubs this season. But why?

First, it’s the offense-heavy and popularity-driven voting that leaves out defensively strong and impactful players. Then, the weighted system tends to favor some while unfairly penalizing others. Also, players from smaller markets, like Thomas, who have missed games due to injury often suffer from skewed perceptions.

That could have easily been the case for Jonquel Jones, too. She hasn’t been active, at least during the early stages of the All-Star run, as she continues to rehab an ankle injury that was initially expected to sideline her for four to six weeks. But, while JJ isn’t back to full practice yet, she’s hitting the gym and making positive progress. So, there’s hope she’ll be back on the court soon. But, for now, it’s just a case of better luck next time!