Wednesday will see the 2021 WNBA All-Stars unveiled. At least a few players will likely be included in the midseason showcase.Team USA will face the WNBA All-Stars on July 14, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN app) at Michelob Ultra Arena in Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Fans (50%), current WNBA player (25%) and a nationwide media panel (25%) voted in favor of the All-Stars. The league's coaches selected a 12-player team out of the 36 highest vote-getters.Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson, the reigning MVP, are competing for Team USA. The 12-member U.S. women's team roster for the Tokyo Olympics was revealed June 21. Which WNBA players can we expect to be named All-Stars in the WNBA?Our panel, which included ESPN.com's Kelly Cohen and Kevin Pelton, as well as The Undefeated’s Sean Hurd, completed a 10-player ballot. It contained six frontcourt and four backcourt players to match the official WNBA ballot. We also voted for two more players to complete the 12-player team.Here's a look at ESPN.com’s All-Star ballot and the most difficult questions we debated while finalizing our vote. * Denotes players who will be the first-time WNBA All-Stars.BackcourtCourtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky): She is leading the WNBA's assists (8.5 APG) once again, just like she has in the past four seasons. She's averaging 11.7 points per game and grabbing a team record 2.0 steals on a balanced Chicago offense. Vandersloot, 32 years old and in her 11th season with the WNBA is still one of the top floor generals in this league. VoepelBetnijah Laney* New York Liberty: Laney has a strong claim to All-Star selection. Laney is stronger than any other player that our panel selected. Eight straight 20-point games were her streak to start the season, which is second longest in WNBA history. She currently ranks fifth in scoring (19.9 PPG), and she is one of three top scorers shooting better than 50% from behind the arc. Laney is also seventh in the league for assists with 5.2. HurdArike Ogunbowale* Dallas Wings: Ogunbowale is a versatile scorer in the WNBA. He has hit some of the best shots of the season and has a knack of scoring big in the clutch. Ogunbowale is the league's fourth-leading scorer (20.3 PPG), and has helped the Wings win their two previous games to improve to 8-8. This will be their 2020 win total. CohenCourtney Williams*, Atlanta Dream - Courtney Williams has been a longtime league leader in scoring, with 17.1 points per game this season. Williams currently leads the Dream in assists (3.8 APG) as well as rebound (6.8 RPG). Although Atlanta's season has been difficult due to injuries, the Dream can count on Williams. At 35.1 minutes per game, she is Atlanta's leading player in minutes played. VoepelFrontcourtConnecticut's starting frontcourt -- DeWanna Boner, Jonquel Jones and Brionna Jones (top left), average 53 points per game and 24.2 rebounds, respectively. Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLiz Cambage (Las Vegas Aces): Cambage was forced to miss the 2020 season in Bradenton due to concerns about her health. Cambage is the missing link for the Aces to win their first WNBA title. She has seen 15 games this season. It is difficult to match her 6-foot-8 skillset. Even when she's not playing her best, her presence on the court and her chemistry with her teammates are crucial to Las Vegas' success. This, to me is All-Star behavior. CohenJonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun - Jones was the MVP front-runner after she left to lead Bosnia & Herzegovina, which finished fifth in EuroBasket, to a place in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament. Jones has been the WNBA’s best player per minute this season. She is still second in my wins over replacement player metric. This is a clear choice. -- PeltonDeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun): Bonner may not get as much attention as she deserves playing alongside Jonquel Jones. Bonner's recent Eastern Conference Player-of-the Week award, which she received after scoring 24.0 points, 10 boards and 3.5 assists per game, is a reminder of her all-star performance for the Sun. HurdCandace Parker, Chicago Sky. Parker's record on the floor when she is playing for the Sky (8-1) is a good example of a player's contribution to the team's value. This compares to her record when she's not (1-7). Parker, when healthy, has been a great player for Chicago -- especially on defense. Parker is the league's leader in defensive rating (for players who average at least 20 minutes per game) and defensive win share. HurdBrionna Jones* (Connecticut Sun): Brionna Jones, a replacement for Jonquel Jones at center, impressed in the Wubble last year and has maintained the same level of play as her nameake, as she is part of one the top frontcourts in the league. Brionna has performed even better when Jonquel was not available during EuroBasket. She averaged 18 points per game on 61% shooting in the five previous games. -- PeltonDearica Hamby* Las Vegas: Although Hamby isn’t a starter in the league, her defense ranks among the top. Her clutch shots from the past are also great. With 6.1 RPG, she is third on the Aces' arguably best team in the WNBA at 11.2 PPG. CohenWhich players will be awarded the last two spots?Sami Whitcomb of New York, who was a reserve player on Seattle's championship teams for 2018 and '20 is averaging 12.3 points per game on 50.3% shooting. Both are career highs. With 2.7 made 3-pointers per match, she leads the WNBA. Rich von Biberstein/Icon SportswireSami Whitcomb* from New York Liberty, a 32-year-old full-time starter, Whitcomb averages 12.3 PPG, and is the WNBA’s most efficient shooter. To achieve the league's highest true shooting percentage of.688, she's hitting 43 3s and making 65% of 2-point attempts. -- PeltonNneka Oluwumike, Los Angeles Sparks - Yes, she played last June 1, and has only five games this season. She was able to average 16.4 points and 7.0 boards while shooting 58.6 per cent from the field. This allowed her to appear more dominant than usual in that brief time. Ogwumike, in her 10th WNBA year, has been one the most consistent players in the league for a long period. VoepelWhich player was the most difficult to choose?As is often the case with selections of 12 athletes to represent the United States at Olympics, there was some controversy. Team USA seeks its seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal. The talent pool is so strong that the best candidates are always left off the team.Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Sparks' coach, criticized USA Basketball for removing forward Nneka Okwumike from the U.S. women’s basketball Olympic team. Fisher called the "travesty" of USA Basketball's decision to remove Ogwumike, a six-time All Star and former MVP, a "travesty."Ogwumike should be considered an All-Star. There are many reasons to say no, which we'll also discuss. Ogwumike was not only a sentimental decision to be included in the Olympic team. She is the only league MVP who hasn’t been awarded that honor. Ogwumike could be a catalyst for both drama and competitiveness in the All-Star Game if the league wants more drama.Although she doesn't like to speak negatively about USA Basketball it's clear that she was shocked and hurt by not being selected for the team. Although she might not show it, it could be an indication of the spark that is burning within her.Ogwumike might be on the team, so the stakes could feel higher. All this assumes Ogwumike is healthy enough to participate. If she isn’t, commissioner Cathy Engelbert will pick a replacement. VoepelOgwumike is not included in the team: Ogwumike is undoubtedly one of the top players in the league but she has only played five games so far and is currently hurt. Ogwumike was injured in her knee in June and has not been back since. She was averaging 16.4 points per game and 7.0 rebounds in those games. The Sparks have struggled with her absence, but there are other players who aren't hurt and have been performing well throughout the season. Ogwumike is not to blame for the injury, but healthy players should be given the nod. CohenDid you think of any other guards?Dallas' Marina Mabrey played well for a large portion of the season. Mabrey averaged 19.3 points, 3.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per contest through the first eight games. Mabrey was somewhat limited by a change in her role with the Wings, which saw the return of Alisha Gray and Satou Sabally, as well as inconsistent shooting performances. She has still shown she is capable of big-game performances. On June 19, she dropped 28 against Minnesota. This is the only list she missed. HurdIt's a joy to see Chennedy Carter. She's averaging 16.8 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game in her second WNBA season. These aren't exactly the most impressive numbers and the Atlanta Dream don't have the best seasons. However, she has rebounded from an injury and is playing great basketball ever since. CohenErica Wheeler, Los Angeles, has had a lot to deal with with the Sparks' injuries. She has played a major role in keeping them afloat. Wheeler averages 13.1 PPG, and 4.4 APG. Her 3-point percentage of 28.6 is still a long way from the 38.4% she shot behind the arc in 2019, which she was the All-Star Game MVP. The Sparks' current record of 6-8 could be worse without Wheeler. VoepelWhich other frontcourt players were you interested in?Stefanie Dolson should've been considered for the frontcourt, according to me. She was selected to the US 3x3 Olympic Team! She is back and in good health and has helped Chicago turn around its season. CohenAnother Sky player was my choice, one who can be used as a backcourt or frontcourt option. Kahleah copper, a guard forward from Chicago, is leading the charge in Chicago's balanced offense. She leads the Sky in scoring (13.9) and minutes played (32.2). Voepel
