WNBA: Mystics’ Brittney Sykes is among biggest All-Star snubs

In a league as talented as the WNBA, it’s not easy determining who should be an All-Star.

After fans, players and the media voted for the starters, the league’s 13 head coaches made their selections for the reserves. On Sunday, the WNBA announced the 12 players who made the team as reserves, and instantly, the debates began about who was surprisingly not on the list.

With only 22 players receiving this accolade, there are bound to be some omissions. This year is no different. But, these three players should have made the team—but didn’t.

Brittney Sykes, guard, Washington Mystics

Last week, we mentioned Sykes as a player who should be named an All-Star reserve. Given the year she’s having, it’s surprising to see that she didn’t make the team, which would have been the first All-Star honor of her career.

It’s great that rookie Sonia Citron made the All-Star roster, but she has not been a better player than Sykes. Sykes is averaging 17.9 points and 4.6 assists, which is better than Citron’s numbers. As a veteran, leader and elite defender, Sykes is one of the main reasons Washington is playing better than most expected this season.

Azurá Stevens, forward, Los Angeles Sparks

Stevens is having a career year with the Sparks. She is averaging 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Stevens has developed into a more effective outside shooter, converting on 38 percent of her 3-point attempts, and has started in all 19 games LA has played.

While Stevens won’t make a fuss about not receiving the All-Star nod for the first time in her career, her teammates, including Rickea Jackson and Dearica Hamby, both showed her support on social media.

Brionna Jones, forward, Atlanta Dream

Why did Brionna Jones not make the team?

She is averaging 8.1 rebounds per game, which leads the Dream. She also is scoring 14 points a night while playing 29.7 minutes per game. Her scoring inside the paint and ability to get to her spot makes her one of the toughest players to guard in the WNBA. It’s vexing that she will not be on the team. This would have been her fourth All-Star appearance.