On Sunday, June 29, the WNBA announced that Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will serve as captains for this year’s All-Star Game after earning their second and fifth career All-Star nods, respectively.
Clark, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Collier, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, earned the honor by securing the most fan votes.
What Does Being a Captain Involve?
Being named an All-Star captain comes with special responsibilities. Clark and Collier will draft their All-Star teams playground-style from a pool that includes eight starters and 12 reserves. The eight starters are selected by fan votes (50%), current WNBA players (25%), and media members (25%).
These starters will be announced on Monday, June 30. The 12 All-Star reserves will be chosen by the league’s head coaches on July 6.
The WNBA All-Star Game draft will be broadcast on WNBA Countdown Presented by Google on July 8. Fans can tune in to see Clark and Collier pick their teams live.
Caitlin Clark’s Journey to All-Star Captain
Caitlin Clark’s journey to becoming an All-Star captain was celebrated in a special video shared by the Fever. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called Clark to personally congratulate her, saying, “Caitlin, I just want to personally congratulate you on being named captain for the 2025 WNBA All-Star team.”
The announcement was met with cheers and applause from Clark’s teammates. Clark, always confident, responded to Engelbert’s good wishes for the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final by saying, “We about to get that dub, Cathy.”
However, Clark’s availability for the 2025 All-Star Game remains uncertain. She has missed seven games this season due to injuries, including the Fever’s last two games because of a left groin injury. Her status for the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup championship game against the Lynx is still unclear.
Napheesa Collier’s Road to Captaincy
Napheesa Collier’s announcement as a captain was equally special. She found out the news in a touching moment with her three-year-old daughter, Mila, who wore a shirt that read, “Mama, you’re a All-Star.”
Collier’s husband, Alex Bazzell, was also part of the moment, expressing how proud he was of her achievement. “She’s earned it. We’re excited about it and hopefully more and more to come,” he said.
Collier has been outstanding this season, leading the Minnesota Lynx to a league-best 13-2 record. She’s averaging a league-high 24.5 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game, putting her in the running for the 2025 WNBA MVP award.
A Look Ahead to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be held on July 19 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the home of the Fever. There’s potential for more Indiana stars to shine during the game.
As of the first fan voting returns earlier this month, Fever center Aliyah Boston was ranked third, trailing only Clark and Collier. Could Clark and Boston team up for an exciting performance? Fans will have to wait and see.
Clark, who’s averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game (a career-high), and Collier, who continues to dominate the court, will lead their respective teams in what promises to be a thrilling All-Star Game.
Clark and Collier’s Previous All-Star Game Face-Off
Last year, Clark and Collier faced off against each other in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. Team WNBA, led by Clark, defeated the U.S. women’s national team, which was preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. During that game, Collier had limited playing time, scoring zero points in just three minutes of action.
Meanwhile, Clark contributed four points and 10 assists in 26 minutes of play, though her shooting was off, as she went 2-of-9 from the field and 0-of-7 from three-point range.
Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier are set to lead the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game as captains, with their remarkable performances earning them this honor. As they prepare to draft their teams and face off in what promises to be an exciting game, fans are eager to see which players will join them in this star-studded event.
