When Atlanta's Rhyne Howard went down with a knee injury last week, speculation ramped up as to which player would replace the Dream sharpshooter on Napheesa Collier's team at this weekend's WNBA All-Star Game.
Brionna Jones, Howard's teammate in Atlanta, was cited as a strong candidate. Since signing with the Dream as a free agent in February, Jones has been a quality addition to a new-look front court alongside Brittney Griner. Jones, a three-time All-Star, is averaging 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, as well as a career-best 14.7 assist rate -- showcasing her ability as a facilitator in the Dream's fluid offense.
Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes may have had an even better All-Star case. The youthful Mystics have been one of the WNBA's big surprises in 2025, but the veteran Sykes has assumed a key leadership role for a team firmly in the playoff hunt.
Sykes is averaging 17.6 points and 4.5 assists per game, both career-bests. The 31-year-old may have a low field goal percentage (38.5), but she has remained one of The W's stingiest defenders and one of its craftiest players at drawing fouls -- Sykes leads all players with 144 free throw attempts.
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However, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert threw a curveball by choosing Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride as Howard's replacement on Team Collier. It means McBride will play with her Minnesota teammates Collier and Courtney Williams in Indianapolis on Saturday -- not long after Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve complained that the league-leading Lynx were not properly represented at the All-Star Game.
"I don’t know why only Phee and Courtney are All-Stars when you have the best team in the league by a few games," Reeve said on July 6. "There are teams that are below us in the standings by a lot that have three All-Stars. Historically teams at the top get a minimum of three, often times four."
McBride is enjoying a solid season, averaging 14.1 points on 41 percent shooting and 38 percent from 3-point range. But it is hard to escape the perception that Reeve's politicking forced Engelbert's hand -- especially as Reeve is the coach of Team Collier.
Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride Named as Replacement Player for 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game pic.twitter.com/JZr8uXnlpw
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) July 15, 2025
The Mystics sending rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen to the All-Star Game already may have hurt Sykes' case as an injury replacement. The Dream is sending possible MVP candidate Allisha Gray to Indy, but no one else, even though Atlanta has the league's fifth-best record.
From that vantage point, it would be understandable for Atlanta to feel a little aggravation -- Howard won't play in this star-studded exhibition, and neither will Jones.
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