Stewart, Wilson, Griner Among 2023 WNBA All-Star Game Starters
The WNBA announced its All-Star Game starters Sunday afternoon, and there is little surprise who is leading the way. For the second consecutive year, the two captains for the All-Star Game will be Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Aces forward A’ja Wilson, who finished in the top two of fan voting.
Both players will both be making their fifth appearance in the event. Wilson is coming off an MVP season last year, while Stewart is enjoying a career year in her first season with New York. Last year, Wilson’s All-Star team defeated Stewart’s team in Chicago.
Brittney Griner headlines the rest of the starters, as the Mercury center was named to her ninth All-Star Game this year (including last year’s honorary selection). The only first-time All-Star among the starters is Fever forward and No. 1 draft pick Aliyah Boston, who becomes the eighth rookie ever to be selected as a WNBA All-Star starter, and the first since 2014.
Besides the two captains, two other players were selected as starters for a second straight year: Aces guard Jackie Young (second All-Star appearance) and Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike (eighth All-Star appearance).
Rounding out the list of starters are Aces guard Chelsea Gray, Storm guard Jewell Loyd, Wings forward Satou Sabally and Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale. Loyd is the only one of those four who previously started an All-Star Game, doing so in 2019. Ogunbowale was named the All-Star Game MVP last year.
The WNBA All-Star Game will take place in Las Vegas on July 15. The league will announce the reserves on July 1, and the two captains will pick their teams in a live draft on July 8.
