The WNBA is set to embark on a landmark 30th-anniversary season. With rising salary caps, significant player movement, and an influx of youthful energy, the league is positioned for a major year. Analysts have collaborated to project the preseason All-WNBA teams, suggesting that while younger talent is making waves, seasoned veterans remain the standard-bearers for excellence.

The Power of Experience

Of the 10 players selected for these honorary squads, seven have at least eight years of professional experience under their belts. This includes established stars like 14-year veteran Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas, now in her 12th year. Even as younger athletes solidify their roles, the league's most tenured stars continue to hold their ground at the pinnacle of the game.

First Team Projections

  • A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces): Fresh off her fourth MVP award and a WNBA Finals MVP performance, Wilson remains the league’s most dominant force. Leading the league in blocks and scoring last season, she continues to refine her game, including a dangerous 3-point shot.
  • Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty): Despite a quiet season by her standards, Stewart’s recent success in international play underscores her elite status. Entering her 10th season, she looks primed to return to her usual All-WNBA form.
  • Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings): Following a stellar rookie campaign where she excelled as a two-way guard, Bueckers is expected to see increased efficiency and impact in her second year, potentially entering the MVP conversation.
  • Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury): Coming off a career-best season in terms of shooting percentage and assists, Thomas remains the heart of the Mercury’s offense.
  • Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces): Recognized as one of the best two-way guards in the sport, Young is looking to sustain the momentum from her impressive 2025 postseason run.

Second Team Projections

  • Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever): While injury hampered her 2025 season, Clark’s unique playmaking ability and gravity on the perimeter make her a constant threat. Her capacity to create offense makes her a staple among the league's elite.
  • Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream): A high-efficiency "3-and-D" specialist, Gray has proven she can balance high-volume scoring with disciplined perimeter defense.
  • Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever): Expectations remain high for Boston as she continues to develop her post game and interior defense. Consistency will be the key to her taking the next step this year.
  • Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks): Moving into a leadership role as a primary scoring option, Plum will be looking to prove her ability to elevate the Sparks into a playoff-caliber contender.
  • Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks): A remarkably consistent performer, Ogwumike has maintained elite production well into her 30s. Her versatility and ability to space the floor make her an invaluable asset.

Honorable mentions include Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu, Rhyne Howard, Veronica Burton, and Kelsey Mitchell.