4 WNBA players who could be first-time All-Stars this season

WNBA All-Star voting is currently underway, and 20 players will be celebrated as All-Stars next month in Indianapolis.

There are some no-brainer selections, like Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. And, there are several longtime All-Stars sure to rack up another honor, like New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and three-time MVP A’ja Wilson.

There are also several potential first-time All-Stars — here’s who headlines that list.

Paige Bueckers is in the midst of a superb rookie season and is likely to be named an All-Star in her first campaign. Bueckers is leading the Wings in scoring (17.7 points on 47.2% shooting), assists (5.7), steals (2.1), and blocks (1). While Dallas has struggled — the Wings are 2-7 with Bueckers available — the former UConn star has been a massive bright spot.

Kayla Thornton won a WNBA championship last year with the New York Liberty and was subsequently left unprotected ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft.

Being selected by the Valkyries might have been the best thing to have happened to Thornton; she’s averaging career-highs in scoring (14.6 points per game), rebounds (7.2), and steals (1.8). The Valkyries are 5-6 to begin the year, and Thornton has been the team’s leader in three categories and very well could be selected for her first career All-Star.

31-year-old Brittney Sykes has accomplished plenty in her career. She’s been named to the All-Defensive team on three separate occasions and averaged double-figure points in six seasons. But, this season, Sykes has taken her game to another level, averaging a career-high 20.5 points, 8.3 points more than last season. Her overall shooting percentage is down (she’s shooting 37.9% from the field), but she’s hitting a career-best 41.2% from three. The former No. 7 pick has been a critical part of the Mystics’ success this season; at 5-7, Washington finds itself just half a game behind the Las Vegas Aces in the playoff race.

It’s well-known that Gabby Williams is one of the WNBA’s elite two-way players. But, an All-Star? That’s an accolade she’s yet to earn throughout her six-year WNBA career. Williams is averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.7 steals per game this season — all career-highs. She’s shooting 50.4% from the field and 42.9% from three, a marked improvement from her career 28.7% three-point shooting. The 28-year-old has been instrumental to the Storm’s success so far this season; Seattle is 7-5 and currently has the league’s fifth-best record.