With All-Star week upon us, here are 10 (or so) players that have been some of my favorites to watch so far this season.

All stats and rankings through games played on July 14, 2025

1. Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston & Kelsey Mitchell: We have to start this off with the All-Star hosts from Indiana. The Fever have a big three that blend complementary skill sets with on-court chemistry.

• Clark is the engine, the playmaker that can distribute to her teammates (9.0 apg, 2nd in WNBA) and spread the floor with her deep shooting range
• Boston is the anchor, a dominant force near the basket (11.7 paint ppg, 3rd in W), a top-five rebounder and top-10 rim protector
• Mitchell is the scorer, the eight-year vet has averaged 17+ ppg in six straight seasons, currently a career-high-tying 19.2 (5th in W) 

Watch Clark and Boston dissect teams in the pick-and-roll. Watch Mitchell catch a dime on a well-timed cut to the basket, or find a gap in the defense for a catch-and-shoot 3.  This trio is key to Indy’s top three ranking in offense.

It’s no surprise that when selecting her squad, All-Star team captain Clark made sure to have Boston and Mitchell on her side for Saturday’s game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

2. Angel Reese & Kamilla Cardoso: The Sky had two of the top seven picks in the 2024 Draft and used them to select 6-7 center Cardoso (3rd) and 6-3 forward Reese (7th) to create a twin towers foundation.

Saturday’s win over Minnesota showcased the potential of Chicago’s frontline. Both Reese (19 puts 11 rem 4 ast, 2 stl) and Cardoso (17 pts, 15 reb) posted double-doubles as the Sky knocked off the top team in the league.

The Sky are the top rebounding team in the W (52.7%) and as the on-court chemistry between Reese and Cardoso continues to develop, their offensive impact will only grow, especially with Reese in more of a playmaking role this season – her 3.8 assists per game have doubled from her rookie season.

3. Napheesa Collier: Ahead of the 2025 season, 67% of the league’s GM’s predicted Collier as this year’s Most Valuable Player. Collier is doing her best to prove them right.

Not only is she the best player on the league’s best team, she’s been a dominant force in all aspects of the game. Take a look at the numbers (and rankings):

• 23.9 Points Per Game (1st)
• 7.7 Rebounds Per Game (8th)
• 1.7 Steals Per Game (6th)
• 1.6 Blocks Per Game (4th)
• 51.9 Field Goal % (8th)
• 95.4 Free Throw % (1st)

Here’s the list of players to average 20+ points, 1.5+ steals and 1.5 blocks for a season: A’ja Wilson (2024, 2025), Breanna Stewart (2023) and Lisa Leslie (2006). Pretty good company that Phee is on track to join.

4. Sabrina Ionescu & Natasha Cloud: The defending champs made a significant change to their lineup in the offseason with Courtney Vandersloot’s exit and the addition of Natasha Cloud to pair with Ionescu in the backcourt.

Her name and number combo may spell Cloud 9, but the veteran guard makes opposing teams feel anything but a sense of profound happiness and joy. She’s an elite perimeter defender and playmaker, who is on track for a fifth straight top-five finish in assists (6.1 apg, 3rd in WNBA).

Meanwhile, Ionescu continues to strike the right balance between scoring (career-best 18.8 ppg) and playmaking (5.3 apg, 9th in WNBA), making the Liberty the only team in the league with two players ranked in the top 10 in assists.

Having Breanna Stewart (19.5 ppg) and Jonquel Jones (12.1 ppg, returning soon from ankle injury) on the frontline certainly helps rack up those assists.

5. Paige Bueckers: Just 17 games into her professional career, Bueckers not only leads all rookies in scoring (18.3 ppg) and assists (5.4 apg), she’s ranked ninth and eighth, respectively, in those categories across the entire league.

She’s on pace to be 13th rookie in league history to average 18 ppg, while joining Clark as the only rookies to average 18+ points and 5+ assists. Similar to Clark, Bueckers has made the transition from college to the pros appear seamless, which is a testament to her talent, poise and basketball IQ.

Bueckers is one of eight players to shoot 45% or higher on at least 10 FGA and three 3PA per game. Seven of the eight players on that list are All-Stars. Among the top 10 players in assists, Bueckers ranks sixth in assist/turnover ratio at 2.33 – tied with veteran All-Star guard Skylar Diggins

6. A’ja Wilson: The reigning MVP continues to ball out on both ends of the court on a nightly basis. She’s ranked second in scoring (21.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg), first in blocks (2.4 bpg) and seventh in steals (1.6 spg).

A quick PSA to all WNBA fans: Don’t take this greatness for granted.

If Wilson retired today, she would still be a first ballot Hall of Famer with this impeccable resume: 3x MVP, 2x champion, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 1x Finals MVP, 7x All-Star, 4x All-WNBA First Team, 1x scoring champ, 4 x blocks leader.

She’s only 28 years old and has plenty more game to show and accolades to achieve.

7. Sonia Citron & Kiki Iriafen: The Mystics entered the 2025 WNBA Draft with the No. 3 and No. 4 picks, seeking foundational players as the team entered a new era following the retirement of Elena Delle Donne and the break up of the remaining players from Washington’s 2019 title run.

With the selections of Citron and Iriafen, the Mystics looked to have hit a two-run home run, with both earning an All-Star selection in their rookie season.  

Throughout WNBA history there have been 35 players to be named an All-Star as a rookie, but only twice has it happened with teammates in the same season – Washington in 2025 and Orlando in 1999.

Not only are they among the rookie leaders in nearly every category, Citron (14.4 ppg) is a top-25 scorer among all players, while Iriafen (14.4 ppg, 22nd) is already a top-five rebounder (8.5 rpg, 4th). And they are just getting started.

8. Allisha Gray: In her ninth WNBA season, Gray continues to elevate her game — posting career-best numbers in points (18.6, 8th in WNBA), rebounds (5.5, 21st), assists (3.9, 15th), 3-pointers made (2.3, 5th) and minutes (36.0, 1st).

Gray is headed to Indianapolis for her third straight All-Star appearance and will defend her titles in both the Kia Skills Challenge and Starry 3-Point Contest after sweeping the two Friday night events last year in Phoenix.

Winning both of those competitions showcased Gray’s all-around game. And her numbers this year back it up. Here’s the list of players that have averaged at least 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and two 3-pointers in a season: Allisha Gray in 2025. That’s it. That’s the entire list.

9. Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Alyssa Thomas: These are the only three players of this year’s 22 All-Stars to have 10+ years of experience in the WNBA.

They may be the OG’s or the Aunties this weekend in Indianapolis, but they all still have plenty of game to share with fans and the next generation of stars, which includes Storm teammate Gabby Williams.

• Diggins is the only player in the league currently ranked top 10 in points (17.9) and top five in assists (5.8).
  
• Thomas leads the league in assists (career-high 9.6 apg) and is one of three players (along with Clark and Reese) to log a triple-double this season. 
• Owumike leads all players in clutch buckets with 12 on 52.2% shooting so far this season.

10. Kelsey Plum, Satou Sabally & Kayla Thornton: We discussed Thomas above, but she would also fit into this category of players to earn an All-Star nod in their first season with a new team.

• Plum (Aces to Sparks): After winning two titles in Las Vegas, Plum was traded to the Sparks in the offseason and is on pace to post the first-ever season with 20+ ppg and 5+ apg in WNBA history. She enters All-Star week at 20.1 ppg (3rd in WNBA) and 5.8 apg (6th) 
• Sabally (Wings to Mercury): After being a two-time All-Star in Dallas, Sabally was part of a historic 10-team trade in the offseason that brought to Phoenix, where she is averaging a career-best 19.1 ppg (6th in WNBA) along with 7.7 rebounds (9th), 1.9 3-pointers (15th) and 1.4 steals (18th) 
• Thornton (Liberty to Valkyries): After winning her first title with New York in 2025, Thornton has earned her first All-Star selection with Golden State in 2025. Selected by the Valkyries as part of their expansion draft, Thornton is averaging career-best numbers across the board — 14.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.9 3pm, 1.4 spg – to lead Golden State to the best inaugural season for an expansion team in 25 years