If Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles are starters, I really don’t understand how Diana Taurasi is not. Last time I checked, it was DT who had Phoenix in the Finals last year, not Seattle or Minnesota. I also don’t get how Courtney Vandersloot leads the league in assists every year including this one, win a title last year with the stats to prove she’s been better than any other PG especially Sue, and not be voted a starter. I’m sure Diana and Courtney will both be reserves but that puts great players like Chelsea Gray and Natasha Cloud at risk of not making a team. ~Eric Edwards~
AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022 Starter Pool
Candace Parker, Sky (7th All-Star selection): A two-time Kia WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion, Parker is the only player in WNBA history to win MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season (2008). The MVP of the 2013 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, who is averaging 12.7 points per game and 8.1 rebounds, will play in front of her hometown Chicago crowd.
Sue Bird, Storm (13th All-Star selection): Bird, who announced that she will retire following the 2022 WNBA season, has been selected to more AT&T WNBA All-Star Games than any player in league history. Only Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi, each of whom was selected 10 times, have earned double-digit selections. Bird is the league’s career leader in assists (3,122) and games played (561).
Sabrina Ionescu, Liberty (1st All-Star selection): Ionescu, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm makes her All-Star debut. She leads the Liberty in scoring and assists with career-best figures of 16.7 ppg and 6.1 apg. On June 12, Ionescu became the youngest player in WNBA history to record multiple triple-doubles in a career.
Jonquel Jones, Sun (4th All-Star selection): The reigning Kia WNBA MVP and winner of the 2018 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year and 2017 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player award, Jones will play in the All-Star Game for the fourth time. Jones is pacing the Sun with 15.1 points per game and ranks third in the league with 9.4 rebounds per game.
Sylvia Fowles, Lynx (8th All-Star selection): The WNBA’s career leader in total rebounds (3,835), defensive rebounds (2,743), and field goal percentage (.598), Fowles has announced that 2022 will be her final season. The 2017 Kia WNBA MVP and two-time Finals MVP is averaging 16.5 points per game and a league-leading 10.3 rebounds per game.
Breanna Stewart, Storm (4th All-Star selection): The 2018 Kia WNBA MVP, a two-time WNBA Finals MVP and a three-time league champion, Stewart is leading the WNBA in scoring with a career-high tying 21.8 points per game and contributing 7.6 rebounds per game.
Nneka Ogwumike, Sparks (7th All-Star selection): Ogwumike, the 2016 Kia WNBA MVP and champion, also is a three-time winner of the WNBA’s Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. Ogwumike leads the Sparks in scoring (18.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.7 rebounds per game).
Jackie Young, Aces (1st All-Star selection): The first overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm, Young is one of eight No. 1 overall picks selected as starters, along with Bird (2002), Parker (2008), Ogwumike (2012), Stewart (2016), Plum (2017), Wilson (2018), and Ionescu (2020). Young is averaging a career-best 18.2 points per game. Young is averaging a career-best 18.2 points per game and contributing 4.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Kelsey Plum, Aces (1st All-Star selection): Plum, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2017 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm and the Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year in 2021, makes her All-Star debut. Her career-high and team-leading 20.3 points per game have helped the Aces generate the league’s No. 1-scoring offense (91.5).
A‘ja Wilson, Aces (4th All-Star selection): The 2020 Kia WNBA MVP and 2018 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year is playing in her fourth consecutive AT&T WNBA All-Star Game. She previously served as an All-Star captain when Team Wilson defeated Team Delle Donne in the 2019 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game. Wilson is averaging 18.4 points per game and ranks second in the league at 9.6 rebounds per game.
WNBA Fans Upset Diana Taurasi is not an All Star Game Starter
