Taking a page out of the NBA’s All-Star team-picking format, the WNBA has followed suit and changed their format for the voting in the All-Star Game.
On top of the exciting new match-ups this season and the new rookies that are making waves already, the WNBA has announced a new voting style which can add some drama to this year’s All-Star game.
A new piece that stands out in the rule change is that each of the All-Star teams’ lineups will be selected by the two highest vote-getters. Those captains will then meet and pick teams, with the final rosters being announced on Thursday, July 19 during ESPN2’s telecast of the match-up between the Washington Mystics and the Dallas Wings in Dallas.
Another interesting element is that fans have 40 percent of the vote, and they vote for their top 10 favorite players, regardless of position or conference. This could, in theory, be tricky as fans can stack the roster with all posts or all forwards or all guards, leaving the pressure on the players, coaches, and media members to balance the rosters back out with their percentages.
The official statement per the WNBA:
The selection of 2018 All-Stars will be conducted through a combination of voting by fans (40 percent of the vote), current WNBA players and head coaches (20 percent each), and a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters (20 percent).
Fans will be able to vote for their top 10 players regardless of position or conference. Players, coaches and the media panel will each vote for 22 players, selecting nine guards and 13 frontcourt players regardless of conference. Players and coaches may not vote for members of their own team.
“Delivering on the promise to constantly innovate and entertain is driving this All-Star format change for our fans and partners,” said WNBA President Lisa Borders. “This bold and innovative approach to Verizon WNBA All-Star provides an opportunity to put the best of the best in our showcase event.”
Voting tips off June 19, while the actual All-Star game will be played in Minneapolis on July 28.
