The 2026 WNBA All-Star rosters are set, but the debate is far from over. During the CBS Sports broadcast, Debbie Antonelli and Lisa Leslie reviewed the selection lists and focused on Mabrey's case.

"I love Marina Mabrey on this list. Marina is the most improved player in the league this year," Antonelli noted. She pointed out that Mabrey has increased her scoring output this year, even though her playing time has decreased.

"And [Marina Mabrey] is also second in the league in scoring, so that's another player who could have also been a starter," Lisa Leslie noted.

The video clip showing these comments was posted on X by the official @CBSSports account on July 11.

She believes, even though Mabrey earned her very first All-Star selection as a reserve, both analysts made it clear that they believed she earned an even higher honor.

Leslie focused her argument on individual production rather than standard league popularity. 

Mabrey is averaging an elite 21.2 points per game alongside 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists. She is hitting 45.4% of her shots from the field and 40.6% from beyond the three-point arc. She has also earned multiple Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.

Mabrey has also delivered some of the historic individual moments. On June 25, she scored a brilliant 53 points against the Los Angeles Sparks, tying the WNBA single-game scoring record. 

During that same game, she also tied the league record for the most made three-pointers in a single game. This is why so many analysts feel she earned a starting spot, which raises questions about why she fell short.

Why Mabrey missed the starting lineup

According to details on the official WNBA website, the process for selecting All-Star starters relies on a divided voting system. The fans control 50% of the total vote, while current players and a panel of sports media members split the remaining 50% evenly. 

Weighted rankings are calculated from all three groups to determine the final ten starters. The four guard spots for the game went to Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Olivia Miles, and Kelsey Mitchell. 

These players benefited from a mix of excellent individual play, national popularity, and team visibility. By comparison, the Toronto Tempo is still in its expansion era and holds a 9-13 record. 

Playing for a first-year franchise reduces the national television spotlight, which makes it harder to gather the fan voting numbers needed to win a starting role.

However, the league’s 15 head coaches are responsible for picking the 12 All-Star reserves, and they cannot vote for their own players. Her excellent performance this season helped Mabrey secure a spot on the bench. 

This is the very first All-Star appearance of Mabrey's eight-year professional career. It also gives the Toronto Tempo franchise its first-ever All-Star representative in team history. 

The attention is now in Chicago for the All-Star Game on July 25. Whether she comes off the bench or enters the game later, she has shown she belongs on the biggest stage.

Drop a comment below with your thoughts on the roster choices this year.

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Sinha