Caitlin Clark's All-Star team selection shoves a budding rivalry into the spotlight

A drama-filled start to the WNBA season is nearly at the halfway mark as the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game rosters have been chosen, and Caitlin Clark is one of the headliners for the third straight season.

After being selected last season and suffering a season-ending injury a few games before the All-Star break, Clark is set to return to All-Star festivities. There are no captains this season for the first time, with Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon appointed as team captains for the game. The game will take place on July 25 at the United Center in Chicago, and we now know who Clark will be suiting up for.

Clark headlines 'Team Spoon' as one of the top overall selections

Before Clark heads to her third All-Star in three years, she learned which team she will be on, but not as the top overall pick as in her first two seasons.

Clark joins teammate Aliyah Boston on "Team Spoon," and they will battle fellow teammate Kelsey Mitchell on "Team Coop." Team Coop received the first overall pick via a coin toss, which gave Cooper Paige Bueckers. The Dallas Wings point guard earned the most fan votes, while Clark earned the second-most. The voting results for the All-Star starters were chock-full of drama, with Bueckers earning the No. 1 overall guard ranking from fans and the players, while Clark was ranked No. 2 overall by fans, No. 3 by the media, and No. 11 overall by the players.

Despite the obvious jealousy displayed by her peers, Clark earned the No. 2 overall spot, sending her to Team Spoon. Team Spoon's complete roster is listed below

• Starters: Aliyah Boston (Fever), A'ja Wilson (Aces), Caitlin Clark (Fever), Jessica Shepherd (Wings), Olivia Miles (Lynx)

• Reserves: Allisha Gray (Dream), Courtney Williams (Lynx), Jonquel Jones (Liberty), Kiki Iriafen (Mystics), Nneka Ogwummike (Sparks), Ryne Howard (Dream).

Team Spoon battles Team Coop, headlined by No.1 pick Paige Bueckers. Team Coop's full roster is listed below:

• Starters: Breanna Stewart (Liberty), Gabby Williams (Valkyries), Kelsey Mitchell (Fever), Natasha Howard (Lynx), and Paige Bueckers (Wings).

• Reserves: Angel Reese (Dream), Dominique Malonga (Storm), Jackie Young (Aces), Kelsey Plum (Sparks), Marina Mabrey (Tempo), Sonia Cintron (Mystics).

Even though there are 22 players in the game, the spotlight will be thoroughly fixed on the top two picks as their growing rivalry adds another chapter.

Bueckers vs. Clark will be must-see TV

Clark and Bueckers matched up only twice in college, but both were very high-stakes. Both were in the NCAA Tournament, with each player taking a game. Bueckers got the better of Clark and the Fever in their first meeting this season when the Wings knocked off the Fever 107-104 in a fast-paced, high-scoring affair. Even though the Fever lost, Clark made more history as the fastest player in WNBA history to notch 1,500-plus career points, 250-plus career assists, and 250-plus career rebounds. Clark also holds a slight 3-2 advantage in the all-time WNBA series

Bueckers is having a solid second season, averaging a team-leading 20.7 points and 6.3 assists per game, along with 6.2 rebounds per game. In a battle of two of the top guards in the league, it would be a massive win for Clark if she could outperform Bueckers and prove why she is still the gold standard for point guards. Even though neither player will admit it, the WNBA needs this budding rivalry, and it will be entertaining whenever they match up in Chicago at the All-Star Game and in the future.

Clark is getting a lot of unfair, negative attention recently, and showing out in the All-Star Game against Bueckers would be a great start to shifting the narrative.

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