CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Sparks announced on July 2 that some players did not receive or were not aware of emails containing All-Star voting ballots before the voting period concluded. A spokesperson for the team stated that the organization takes responsibility for the ballot distribution issue and will implement a more robust process going forward.

The spokesperson noted that while ballots were sent via email, some players indicated they did not receive the message or only became aware of it after the window closed. This disclosure comes as the league reviews participation rates in the selection of All-Star starters.

Player votes constitute 25 percent of the total vote for WNBA All-Star starters, while fan selections account for 50 percent, and a media voting panel accounts for the remaining 25 percent. Approximately 85 of the league's minimum 180 players cast ballots for the starting lineup.

Kelsey Plum finished 12th in player rank, fifth in media rank, and sixth in fan rank for All-Star starters. Plum has participated in 12 games this season due to injury and is averaging 23.9 points per game, making her the league's second-leading scorer. Fellow Sparks player Nneka Ogwumike finished seventh in player rank, eighth in fan rank, and 10th in media rank for All-Star starters.

The selected WNBA All-Star backcourt starters are Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell. Coaches will select the All-Star reserves, choosing three guards, five frontcourt players, and four players at any position, irrespective of their conference. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own teams in this process. The WNBA All-Star Game is scheduled for July 25, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago.