WNBA All-Star Starters Revealed: Gabby Williams Makes History as First Valkyrie Starter

The 2026 All-Star Starting Lineup

Fans, media, and current players determined the starting roster through a weighted voting system. According to Fox News, fans accounted for 50% of the total vote, while players and a media panel each contributed 25%. The resulting group consists of four guards and six frontcourt players.

Position	Player	Team
Guard	Caitlin Clark	Indiana Fever
Guard	Paige Bueckers	Dallas Wings
Guard	Olivia Miles	Minnesota Lynx
Guard	Kelsey Mitchell	Indiana Fever
Frontcourt	A’ja Wilson	Las Vegas Aces
Frontcourt	Breanna Stewart	New York Liberty
Frontcourt	Aliyah Boston	Indiana Fever
Frontcourt	Natasha Howard	Minnesota Lynx
Frontcourt	Jessica Shepard	Dallas Wings
Frontcourt	Gabby Williams	Golden State Valkyries

A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart lead the group in experience, with both players earning their eighth All-Star selection. The WNBA reported that the 12 reserves will be selected by head coaches, who cannot vote for their own players. Those names are scheduled for release on Tuesday, July 7.

Gabby Williams and the Golden State Valkyries’ Ascent

The selection of Gabby Williams marks a franchise milestone as she becomes the first-ever All-Star starter for the Golden State Valkyries. While Kayla Thornton was the first Valkyrie All-Star as a reserve last season, Williams’ elevation to a starter reflects a career-best campaign. The shift in Williams’ role has been stark. In her previous seven seasons with Chicago and Seattle, she lacked a featured role. With Golden State, she has evolved into a primary creator. As The New York Times reported, Williams is averaging 15.8 points—the team’s highest mark—which significantly exceeds her previous career high of 11.6 points. Her offensive efficiency has also climbed. Williams is currently shooting 35.2 percent from three-point range on over five attempts per game, an improvement over her previous best of 32.3 percent. She has also emerged as a clutch performer, ranking seventh in the league with 31 clutch points on 57.1 percent shooting. “I didn’t come to the Valkyries to be an All-Star. My teammates make me look great on the court. I don’t take this as, ‘Oh yeah, I’m just playing great.’ I take it as everything we’re doing, we’re going in the right direction as a team.” Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries The news was kept secret from the team until Wednesday, when coach Natalie Nakase announced it during a post-practice circle at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland. Williams admitted she struggled to contain her emotions in the moment. “I was a little embarrassed. I was holding them back because I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone. But I just smiled and laughed and danced with everyone.” Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries

Indiana Fever’s Historic Trio

The Indiana Fever achieved a rare feat with three players—Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell—voted as starters. While the trio has appeared in the All-Star Game for three consecutive years, this is the first time all three were voted into starting roles. Caitlin Clark continues to drive the league’s popularity and statistical benchmarks. She is currently averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game, ranking fifth in the league, and is second in assists with 8.2 per game. According to reporting from Fox News, Clark has also become the fastest player in WNBA history to surpass 1,000 career points and 500 career assists.

A New Format for the 30th Anniversary

The 2026 game departs from the captain-led draft system used since 2018 (excluding the 2020 COVID-19 season). To celebrate the league’s 30th anniversary, the WNBA is introducing honorary general managers. Hall of Fame legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon will serve as GMs, drafting their rosters from the pool of 22 All-Stars. Cooper, a four-time champion with the Houston Comets and two-time regular-season MVP, and Weatherspoon, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, will lead “Team Cooper” and “Team Weatherspoon.” The rosters will be finalized in the coming days. The head coaches for the game will be determined by the two teams with the best records following the games on Friday, July 10.

Schedule and Broadcast Details

The event will be centered at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, July 25. The broadcast window on ABC begins at 8 p.m. ET with a special edition of WNBA Countdown, followed by the All-Star Game at 8:30 p.m. ET, and concluding with WNBA Postgame at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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