The developments around this year’s All-Star Weekend have been spicy from the very beginning. After all, this is Caitlin Clark’s first time as a team captain, and that too at home! From trading coaches to dealing with roster struggles, it’s been some road. But majorly threatening the smooth sailing of this event? Injuries. Satou Sabally, A’ja Wilson, and Rhyne Howard are just some of the big names. But while the former two are expected to participate, Howard’s knee troubles aren’t that simple. And interestingly, that has opened a door for Kayla McBride.
McBride, a five-foot-eleven veteran guard for the Minnesota Lynx, will be playing under a familiar duo–Cheryl Reeve and Napheesa Collier. She’s a sniper from deep, putting up 14 points a game, and is responsible for a decent chunk of the Lynx’s offensive workload. And considering Minnesota is the best team in the West, we can see why she made the cut!
However, the WNBA community at large had a different name in mind for this particular injury replacement. Brittney Sykes, the Washington Mystics vet, has been balling out this season, putting up averages of nearly 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists a game. Thanks in good part to that, the Mystics currently sit third in the Eastern Conference. So, according to a few fans, Sykes deserved the All-Star call at long last, but it wasn’t to be.
Kayla McBride will join Team Collier as a replacement for Rhyne Howard in the 2025 @ATT WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday July 19th! pic.twitter.com/Dpq8PYGwCk
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 15, 2025
This selection, made by Cathy Engelbert, although not entirely unfounded, drew considerable criticism from Washington fans and supporters of the W in general. Statistically, Sykes is better than McBridge in just about every category and has been grinding away for nearly a decade. So, there is a harsh allegation going about, and it is not pretty for Reeve.
What exactly are fans saying about this All-Star snub for Slim? Let’s find out.
“It came down to who is coaching her,”: Fans react to Kayla McBride’s All-Star inclusion
The debate of Kayla McBride versus Brittney Sykes has been pretty opinionated, but fans haven’t really been focusing on the individual accolades and stats. In their minds, it was a decision borne out of simple favoritism–one that didn’t necessarily make sense!
This isn’t the first time that Sykes has gotten snubbed from the All-Star game. It’s not even the first time she has gotten snubbed this season! The five-foot-nine guard was quite motivated after the first one. “I’m more used to being counted out or under looked… I’m more used to that in my career. So if anything it’s just more ammunition, more motivation; it’s adversity.” And isn’t that a mindset to follow? So as the disheartening update followed, fans did not hold back.
“Kayla McBride over Brittney Sykes is CRAZY, but okay WNBA,” one voiced on X, not buying into the All-Star move. It was a common sentiment as fans agreed that there were a lot of ways Cathy Engelbert could’ve gone in this situation, but KMac wasn’t the right fit this season over Skyes. Her four previous All-Star appearances seemed lost on them. What mattered was that Skyes has been averaging her career-best points and assists.
So, the heat was directed at one person.
Oct 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) celebrates with her teammates after their win against the Connecticut Sun during game five of the 2024 WNBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
One user summed up the viewpoint perfectly. “This is ridiculous. Azura, Sykes, Bri Jones, and Dearica were ALL more deserving. @CathyEngelbert sold out to Cheryl Reeve’s whining about not having more All Stars.” That was a reference to Reeve’s grievances about the All-Star game this year. According to her, the number one team in the Western Conference deserved more than 2 All-Star selections, and now? They have exactly that.
“Politics, Indiana got 3, Minnesota got 3.” Another fan said on X, bringing up how both popular teams have a good amount of players in the ASG. Fans hadn’t lost their humorous touch, however. “Who made that decision. Cheryl Reeves ?”
For most fans, it all boiled down to Cheryl Reeve’s complaints at the end of the day. “Lynx coach complained that her ‘number 1 team’ only had two all-star picks, so this doesn’t surprise me but it should have been Brittney Sykes,“ A fan said, standing up for the five-foot-nine guard in Washington.
There’s some definite tension surrounding the All-Star Weekend, and Howard’s unfortunate injury might’ve created a conundrum for the Minnesota Lynx. So it will be interesting to see how this ASG unfolds, and whether Kayla McBride can prove that she was always meant to be an All-Star. Stay tuned for all the action!
The post “Kayla McBride Over Brittney Sykes?”: Napheesa Collier & Co. Face Fans’ Wrath for Surprise WNBA All-Star Game Selection appeared first on EssentiallySports.
