This year's All Star selection has proven to be one of the most divisive to date, with many questioning whether or not rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron should have made the cut over veterans who have put in the time and effort all season — and when it comes to players who should have been named, the Dream's Brionna Jones is at the top of the list.
Unfortunately, he added, Jones' own laidback personality might have cost her the honor.
That's what the team's coach Karl Smesko told reporters ahead of the team's game against the Valkyries Monday night. In fact, Smesko admitted he wasn't especially worried about whether or not Jones would be named an All Star because he just assumed it was a foregone conclusion. And that's a fair position to take, especially as Jones as put in a strong season for the Dream so far, and is currently averaging 14 points, 2.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds.
Brionna Jones is quiet, Karl Smesko says
While elaborating on what he thinks might have cost Jones the vote, Smesko indicated that Jones' own personality could be a key part of the equation. Jones is "quiet," he said, "and just goes about her business." As a result, she doesn't generate a lot of flashy or dramatic headlines, and that might have meant some coaches didn't keep her in mind this season like they should have.
Jones' play style "doesn't bring a lot of attention" her way, he continued, and "it may have hurt her."
WNBA coaches might have rushed their votes
But there's another factor at play, Smesko insisted: the league's coaches might have rushed their votes more than they should have, which could explain some of the glaring omissions from the list of starters. For example, Alyssa Thomas — who is having a monster of a season for the Mercury — was named a reserve player, and Natasha Cloud wasn't named at all.
"I think coaches are busy," Smesko offered, "[and] sometimes you get caught up seeing what's going on in the league."
In other words, coaches are people like the rest of us, and there are a lot of compelling WNBA storylines out there right now that could have pulled their attention. Coaches weren't allowed to vote for members of their own teams.
2025 WNBA All Star Game
The 2025 WNBA All Star Game will be hosted at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday, July 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC, Disney+, and ESPN+.
This year's All Star will be captained by Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier. The teams will be coached by Cheryl Reeve and Sandy Brondrello. In addition to Clark and Collier, the two rosters will include Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Allisha Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Aliyah Boston, and Satou Sabally.