Last year, when Ezi Magbegor was left off the All-Star roster despite being a top-tier DPOY candidate, Kevin Pelton didn’t mince words. He called it the most “egregious omission ever.” But that was the only “biggest” name he took. And he wasn’t alone. ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel kept things simple too. As Philippou put it, “Otherwise, there aren’t a ton of obvious snubs.” But fast forward a year – and, well, can they say the same now? Not quite. This time, when the annual snubs conversation rolled around, there were, in fact, a ton of names.

We all know the All-Star Game walks the fine line between basketball talent and popularity. But this season, the scales tipped as the gap widened, leaving fans, analysts, and even players wondering: What does it mean to be a star these days? When do stats stop mattering and followers start counting? And why does the selection process feel like it’s being run by a social media algorithm?

After all, some players have been putting up numbers only to be completely ghosted. Meanwhile, others have cruised into the All-Star spotlight on the back of brand buzz, loyal fanbases, or just being in the right jersey at the right time. Now, this isn’t a rant against the All-Star format. The event is still a breakthrough for bringing more attention to women’s basketball. But for those watching the everyday grind, it’s fair to hope that future rosters reward performance, because this year, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Why is Kayla McBride considered a major WNBA All-Star snub?

McBride has been a worthy number two to Napheesa Collier throughout this season, just as she was last year when she earned an All-Star nod. Admittedly, the competition is tougher this time around, but she’s putting up nearly identical numbers – 14.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. In fact, she’s been even more efficient, shooting 43.3% from the field, up from 42% last year. She’s also been incredibly accurate from the free-throw line, converting 94.1% of her attempts.

Yet, she had to face the sting of a snub, as Pelton put it, “That makes it surprising coaches favored backcourt-mate Courtney Williams, who has neither scored as prolifically nor as efficiently as McBride“. Now, in a sad twist of déjà vu, McBride joins Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus (2009) as just the second player in league history to average at least 15 points with a true shooting percentage above 64% and still not be selected as an All-Star. Add in her league-fourth-best plus-minus of 9.4, and you’d think the coaches would’ve handed her a spot without blinking. But apparently, they blinked.

Still and all, McBride remains one of Cheryl Reeve’s most crucial weapons in Minnesota’s title chase, even if the All-Star reserves list forgot to RSVP her name.

Should Brittney Sykes and Brionna Jones have made the All-Star roster?

It’s wonderful that Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron made the team as rookies. However, it makes everyone, including Dearica Hamby, wonder. “Taking two and not including the best player from a below .500 team is crazy,” Hamby said on Brittney Skyes’ snub, and fair to say she was more than frustrated. The mystics might have seen more momentum thanks to the two rookies, but that is no reason to neglect Skyes’ production. It is her leadership that’s been quietly steering the ship of a young team.

Brittney Sykes was widely expected to be an All-Star this season. ESPN and several other outlets had her name circled in bold, and for good reason. She’s having a career year, putting up 17.9 points and 4.6 assists per game, and is more involved than ever, logging 32.1 minutes per night – the most she’s played in any season. Sure, some folks might raise an eyebrow at her efficiency, but the output speaks for itself. Even if some of those points come from the free-throw line, they still count on the scoreboard, because the last we checked, no one’s subtracting style points.

As for Brionna Jones, she is making quite the first impression in Atlanta. In her debut season with the Dream, she’s averaging 14.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game – numbers that actually outdo her 2024 All-Star campaign with Connecticut. She’s also shooting a solid 51% from the field, proving once again that she’s one of the league’s most reliable forces in the paint. And yet, somehow, she was left off the All-Star roster. Not to forget that Jones is the only player in the WNBA this season with seven or more double-doubles who didn’t get the nod.

What Karl Smesko said about Brionna Jones probably makes the snub sting even more. While trying to explain why she might’ve been left out, he hinted that her personality could’ve played a role. Jones is “quiet,” he said, and “just goes about her business.” Basically, she’s not out there making flashy plays or chasing headlines, and that low-key vibe might’ve led some coaches to simply overlook her this season. Is that how basketball works, though?

Was Natasha Cloud unfairly left off the All-Star list?

When ESPN’s Kendra Andrews made her predictions, she said Cloud would be a tough player to cut. And it makes sense. After all, Cloud has been one of the biggest surprises for the New York Liberty, working as the engine of their fast-paced offense. Making an impact on both ends of the court, she’s averaging a team-high 6.2 assists per game, which also ranks fourth in the league. Plus, she doesn’t give the ball away easily, with the third-best assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.17. Her scoring may be modest at 10.1 points per game, but she’s been holding it down on defense.

Her snub might be controversial, but the player herself has accepted this decision with grace as she wrote, “Coaches prepare for me on both sides of the ball every night. Thankful for the players, media, & fans who held it down for me.” However, when you read what she told the NY Post, you realize how tough such pills can be to swallow. 

“I feel 10 years in the career, I’ve gotten snubbed almost every 10 years, whether I led the league in assists, whether I won a championship that season or not,” Cloud said. “It just is what it is.”

Is Dearica Hamby the Most Underrated WNBA Star of 2025?

We know Hamby isn’t too bothered about not being picked. She even wrote, “Whatever about me,” before shifting focus to defending Brittney Sykes. But honestly, she had a solid case to make the list. She’s averaging 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and shooting an impressive 53.7% from the field – numbers that scream All-Star.

Still, the Sparks’ 6-13 record probably hurt her chances. But even with that, there’s no denying how crucial she is to the team. It’s hard to picture where L.A. would be without her leadership and all-around impact. And if team performance played a big role in the selection, then it’s fair to ask: how did Paige Bueckers make it in? The Wings have the same 6-13 record, and Hamby’s stats hold up just fine in comparison. Leaving her out as a reserve feels like an oversight that should not have happened. It is understandable now why fans call her a “quiet stat queen”.

Anyway, despite the omissions, it is important to remember that the coaches making these selections are human and view the game through a different lens than fans. And while getting an All-Star nod is definitely a nice feather in the cap, players ultimately care more about leading their teams to wins and maybe hoisting a trophy or two. If anything, the snubs now have the perfect underdog script, where they get to prove the doubters wrong, one game at a time.