Caitlin Clark is being replaced by a player with far less name recognition.
The WNBA announced on Wednesday that Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes is replacing the Indiana Fever star Clark in the 2025 All-Star Game (which will take place on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.). Sykes did not originally make the cut as either a starter or a reserve but is now set to make the first All-Star appearance of her WNBA career.
Brittney Sykes will join Team Clark as a replacement for Caitlin Clark in the 2025 @att WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday July 19 pic.twitter.com/xB4ZrlNyfV
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 17, 2025
Additionally, the league announced on Wednesday that Atlanta Dream center Brionna Jones has been tabbed as the All-Star Game replacement for Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally (ankle). The WNBA had previously named Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride as an All-Star replacement for Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (knee) earlier this week as well.
As for Clark, she was the highest vote-getter for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, thus making her a starter as well as a team captain. However, Clark announced earlier in the day on Wednesday that she would be unable to participate in any All-Star festivities this year due to her nagging groin injury.
The 23-year-old Clark has been hampered by injuries for much of this season, appearing in just 13 of Indiana’s 23 games so far. Overall on the year, Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game on brutal 37/28/82 shooting splits. With the exception of her assists, that marks a regression in every single category when compared to Clark’s rookie season last year.
As for Sykes, she is averaging 17.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game for the 11-11 Mystics this season. Now Sykes will be getting a chance to compete on Saturday along with the All-Star team that Clark picked herself.
