With the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game being played at a first-time host city, it makes sense that this year’s game also features some first-timers.

Of the 22 players that will head to Indianapolis next weekend, five will be making their All-Star debut, including a trio of rookies to add some new flavor to the festivities.

By comparison, last year’s All-Star had only two first-timers – and both were also rookies in Indy’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago’s Angel Reese – who will both be back at All-Star this year.

Following in their footsteps are three of the top four picks in this year’s draft – Dallas’ Paige Bueckers (No. 1 overall) as a starter, while Washington’s Sofia Citron (No. 3) and Kiki Iriafen (No. 4) are part of the reserve pool that was announced on Sunday.

It marks only the fifth time in WNBA history – and the first time since 2011 – that at least three rookies have been selected as All-Stars. The company they join is pretty impressive:

• 1999 (7 Players): Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Chamique Holdsclaw, Natalie Williams, Tonya Edwards, Nykesha Sales, Shannon Johnson, Yolanda Griffith
• 2002 (3 Players): Stacey Dales, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings
• 2006 (4 Players): Seimone Augustus, Sophia Young-Malcolm, Cappie Pondexter, Candice Dupree
• 2011 (4 Players): Courtney Vandersloot, Danielle Adams, Liz Cambage, Maya Moore

We’ll see where these rookies stack up against the league’s top stars next weekend. For now, here’s how they fit into this week’s power rankings.

1. Minnesota Lynx (17-2) ↔️

Last Week: 1 

This Week: Wed. at PHX, Thur. at LAS, Sat. at CHI

With Sunday’s win over Chicago, the Lynx set a franchise record with their 11th consecutive home win. They also improved to 17-2 on the season, putting them in an exclusive club of teams that had the best starts in WNBA history.

• 2016 Sparks: 18-1
• 1998 Comets: 18-1
• 2023 Aces: 17-2
• 2017 Lynx: 17-2
• 2010 Storm: 17-2
• 2000 Comets: 17-2

What do those teams have in common? They won the WNBA championship in that same season.

While the Lynx came up short in their quest to repeat as Commissioner’s Cup champions last week (note: that game does not count toward the regular season standings), they remain on a championship path.

2. Phoenix Mercury (12-6) ↔️

Last Week: 2 

This Week: Mon. vs. DAL, Wed. vs. MIN

In their only game of the past week, the Mercury lost to the Wings on Thursday despite Kahleah Copper’s season-high 33 points – dropping consecutive games for the first time all season.

Phoenix will look to avenge that loss – and avoid a three-game losing streak – when the Wings visit the Mercury (10 ET, League Pass). The Mercury rose up the standings and the power rankings during their six-game win streak that preceded these losses. Can they get back on track this week?

3. Seattle Storm (12-7) ⬆️

Last Week: 6 

This Week: Wed. at CON, Fri. vs. CON, Sun. vs. WAS

From May 27-June 1, the Storm dropped three straight games to fall to 3-4 on the season. Since then, they have gone 9-3 in their last 12 games, including wins over Atlanta (on a Skylar Diggins game-winner) and New York – two of the teams they leap in this week’s power rankings.

The Storm are one of two teams – along with the host Fever – to have three All-Stars headed to Indianapolis next weekend. Nneka Ogwumike was named a starter last week, with Diggins and Gabby Williams named as reserves on Sunday. 

4. Atlanta Dream (11-7) ⬇️

Last Week: 3 

This Week: Mon. vs. GSV, Fri. at IND, Sun. at NYL

Thursday’s game between the Dream and Storm was a back-and-forth affair that saw neither team lead by more than seven points, nine ties and 25 lead changes. The Dream needed to keep it at 24 lead changes as Seattle’s Skylar Diggins hit the game-winning driving layup to send the Dream to their third loss in the last four games.

Atlanta is now 4-5 on the season in games against opponents .500 or better – tied with Dallas for the sixth-best win percentage in such games and the lowest mark of the five teams with double-digit wins on the season so far.

5. New York Liberty (12-6) ⬇️

Last Week: 4 

This Week: Tue. vs. LVA, Sun. vs. ATL

The Liberty opened the week with a win over the Sparks behind a combined 43 points from the starting backcourt of Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud and a double-double (17 pts, 14 reb) from Breanna Stewart. The win helped NY avoid its first three-game losing streak since July 2022.

However, the Liberty were unable to stack wins as they fell to the Storm on Sunday in a game that saw Stewart held to a season-low eight points – only the 11th career game in single digits. The Liberty will look to bounce back this week, beginning with a clash of the past two champions when NY hosts Las Vegas.

6. Golden State Valkyries (9-8) ⬇️

Last Week: 5 ⬇️

This Week: Mon. at ATL. Wed. at IND, Sat. at LVA

Despite their loss to the Lynx in their only game of the past week, the Valkyries have won seven of their last 10 games and earned a major win on Sunday – securing their first All-Star selection.

Kayla Thornton is one of five first-time All-Stars headed to Indianapolis next weekend and she’ll be the first to ever represent the Valkyries. The last expansion team to have an All-Star in its inaugural season was the Chicago Sky in 2006, when Candice Dupree was named as an injury replacement in the East.

7. Indiana Fever (9-9) ⬆️

Last Week: 8 

This Week: Wed. vs. GSV, Fri vs. ATL, Sun. vs. DAL

The Fever opened the week by winning the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup while becoming the only team to beat the Lynx in Minnesota all season. And they did it by 15 points. And they did it without Caitlin Clark, who has now missed the past five games with a groin injury.

Indiana followed the Cup championship with a dominant win over Las Vegas to snap a 16-game losing streak to the Aces. Defense was the key in both wins – holding the Lynx and Aces under 60 points in consecutive games.

However, Indiana was unable to complete the perfect week as the Sparks rallied past the Fever down the stretch on Saturday, dropping Indiana to 3-7 in games featuring clutch time this season.

8. Las Vegas Aces (9-9) ⬇️

Last Week: 7 

This Week: Tue. at NYL, Thur. at WAS, Sat. vs. GSV

Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon did not mince her words when speaking to the media after the Aces’ 81-54 loss to the Fever on Thursday. The 27-point loss matched the Aces’ largest of the season and the 54 points marked the team’s lowest total since arriving in Vegas in 2018.

Three days after having their effort called out by their coach, the Aces responded with an 18-point win over the Sun in a game that saw Vegas shoot a season-best 54% to get the squad back to .500 through 18 games.

The Aces will be tested this week with matchups against the defending champion Liberty, the Mystics and the Valkyries.

9. Washington Mystics (8-10) ↔️

Last Week: 9 

This Week: Tue. vs. CHI, Thur. vs. LVA, Sun. at SEA

The Mystics were in the unenviable position of facing the Lynx in Minnesota’s first game after losing the Commissioner’s Cup championship. The Lynx raced past the Mystics in the middle two quarters – winning each 27-14 – to hand Washington the loss in its only game of the week.

However, the Mystics got some positive news on Sunday, learning that rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were named as reserves for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. It marked only the second time in league history – and the first since 1999 – that rookie teammates were selected as All-Stars.

10. Dallas Wings (6-13) ↔️

Last Week: 10 

This Week: Mon. at PHX, Wed. at CHI, Sun. at IND

Speaking of rookies, the Wings started four first-year players against the Mercury last Thursday and secured the win behind a combined 51 points from Aziaha James (28 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) and Paige Bueckers (23 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb).

It was the Wings’ fifth win in the last seven games as they continue to leave their 1-11 start to the season in the rearview mirror. This week, they’ll look to stay hot on a three-game road trip, beginning tonight with a rematch with the Mercury.

11. Chicago Sky (5-12)

Last Week: 11 ↔️

This Week: Tue. at WAS, Wed. vs. DAL, Sat. vs. MIN

Seeking their first consecutive wins since the end of May, the Sky jumped out to a 14-point lead over the Lynx, winning the opening quarter 24-10. However, Minnesota answered with a 28-13 second quarter and outscored Chicago 70-51 the rest of the way.

Despite Rachel Banham’s season-high 20 points and six 3s, along with All-Star reserve Angel Reese’s 11th double-double (16 pts, 17 reb, 6 ast) of the season, the Sky lost for the fifth time in their last seven games.

This week, Chicago begins with a back-to-back against the Mystics and Wings before a rematch with the Lynx to close the week on Saturday.

12. Los Angeles Sparks (6-13)

Last Week: 12 ↔️

This Week: Thur. vs MIN, Sun. vs. CON

The Sparks have won just two of their last eight games dating back to June 14 – both of which came on the road against the Indiana Fever. 

On Saturday, the Sparks got a combined 41 points from Azurá Stevens and All-Star reserve Kelsey Plum along with seven clutch time points from Rickea Jackson – including the go-ahead bucket with 54 seconds left.

However, the Sparks don’t face the Fever again until Aug. 7, so they’ll need to find wins against other teams if they hope to climb the standings. It begins this week with games against the Lynx and Sun.

13. Connecticut Sun (2-16) ↔️

Last Week: 13 

This Week: Wed. vs. SEA, Fri at SEA, Sun. at LAS

With their loss to the Aces on Sunday, Connecticut extended its franchise-record losing streak to 10 straight games. 

Aneesah Morrow (12), Tina Charles (11) and Saniya Rivers (10) combined for 33 points in the defeat, while Marina Mabrey missed her fifth straight game with a knee injury.

The schedule doesn’t let up for the 2-16 Sun as they have a home-and-home with 12-7 Seattle to open the week before visiting the Sparks in LA to close the week.

Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.