SB Nation Names All-WNBA Teams: Wilson, Miles, Clark Lead First Team
SB Nation's WNBA awards selections prioritize winning and representation from all eight playoff teams. A'ja Wilson, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers make the First Team, while the Second Team includes Veronica Burton, Kelsey Mitchell, Jackie Young, Angel Reese, and Shakira Austin. The author notes that strong individual seasons from non-playoff players were at a disadvantage in the voting.
The selections reflect a deliberate emphasis on team success, with the author aiming to include at least one player from each of the eight playoff squads. This approach placed individual standouts from non-playoff teams, such as Marina Mabrey, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper, at a clear disadvantage regardless of their personal statistics. The author also acknowledged difficult judgment calls, including placing Kelsey Mitchell on the Second Team behind Caitlin Clark despite Mitchell's strong scoring output, and leaving the Valkyries without a First Team representative despite their second-best record.
The First Team features the league's MVP and leading scorer in A'ja Wilson, alongside top performers like Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers. The Second Team includes notable names such as Veronica Burton, Kelsey Mitchell, Jackie Young, Angel Reese, and Shakira Austin. The author noted that Golden State's success was recognized through other ballot categories, including Coach of the Year and All-Defense selections.
This voting philosophy could influence how future All-WNBA discussions are framed, potentially shifting emphasis toward team achievement over raw individual numbers. Players on losing teams may feel their performances are undervalued, which could affect contract negotiations or endorsement opportunities. Fans of non-playoff franchises may perceive the selections as unfair, while supporters of playoff teams may see the approach as logical. The debate could also shape how media members and analysts weigh winning versus statistics in future award cycles.