Lynx veteran named All-Star alternative over 3 different potential snubs

Editor’s Observe: This story is a part of a sequence from SB Nation profiling the 2025 WNBA All-Star groups. Right now, let’s get to know Kayla McBride.

Minnesota Lynx ahead Kayla McBride will as soon as once more be a WNBA All-Star. The 33-year-old sharpshooter, who beforehand earned 4 All-Star appearances, wasn’t initially chosen as a reserve by coaches.

However, the WNBA introduced on Tuesday she was picked as a alternative by Commissioner Cathy Engelebert after Dream guard Rhyne Howard was dominated out of sport play for the remainder of the month after struggling a knee harm final week. As such, McBride will be part of Workforce Collier.

This season, McBride is averaging 14.1 factors, 2.3 rebounds, and three.1 assists per sport and has helped the Lynx to a league-best 19-4 file.

Now, she joins two Lynx teammates — final yr’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months Napheesa Collier and level guard Courtney Williams — in Saturday’s All-Star sport.

McBride was chosen over Brittney Sykes, Brionna Jones,

McBride was in the end chosen over a number of different candidates who had additionally been floated by media and followers as potential snubs, together with Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes, Atlanta Dream heart Brionna Jones, and Los Angeles Sparks heart Azura Stevens.

At 31 years previous, Sykes has by no means been an All-Star however gave the impression to be on the cusp of a variety this season. She is averaging 17.6 factors, 4.5 assists, and three.8 rebounds. Each her factors and assists mark profession highs. She’s additionally taking pictures 34% from three, the second-best mark of her profession.

Brionna Jones is averaging 13.3 factors, 7.8 rebounds, and a pair of.4 assists whereas anchoring the Dream’s protection, whereas Stevens is averaging 14.7 factors, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Jones is a three-time All-Star, whereas the 29-year-old Stevens has but to be named an All-Star.

The complete record of WNBA All-Stars contains 10 starters:

1. Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings)
2. Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)
3. Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)
4. Allisha Grey (Atlanta Dream)
5. Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
6. A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
7. Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
8. Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)
9. Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm),
10. Satou Sabally (Phoenix Mercury)

And 13 reserves:

1. Skylar Diggins (Seattle Storm) — seventh choice
2. Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury) — sixth choice
3. Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever) — third choice
4. Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics) — 1st choice
5. Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics) — 1st choice
6. Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream) — third choice
7. Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks) — 4th choice
8. Angel Reese (Chicago Sky) — 2nd choice
9. Kayla Thornton (Golden State Valkyries) — 1st choice
10. Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) — 2nd choice
11. Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm) — 1st choice
12. Jackie Younger (Las Vegas Aces) — 4th choice
13. Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx) — fifth choice