The wait is over.
2017 No. 1 draft pick Kelsey Plum and last year’s No. 2 pick Moriah Jefferson will make their season debuts for the San Antonio Stars on Thursday. The team announced that there are no injuries headed into their game against the Dallas Wings, which tips at 11 a.m. CT.
The game will stream on Twitter.
This will be the first opportunity for fans to see the loaded San Antonio backcourt, anchored by Plum, Jefferson, and Kayla McBride, who played her first game of the season last week.
McBride scored 14 points to go with three assists and five rebounds in 28 minutes in the Stars’ loss to the Mercury. She missed the beginning of the season due to an overseas commitment in Turkey.
As for Jefferson, the second-year guard out of UConn played in all 34 Stars games as a rookie, averaging nearly 14 points and just over four assists. She missed the first three games of the season with right knee soreness.
Plum has sat next to Jefferson on the sideline so far, battling a right ankle sprain, but is finally clear to make her pro debut. The rookie from Washington is the NCAA women’s basketball all-time leading scorer with 3,527 career points. She was also named the Wooden, Naismith, and AP Player of the Year as a senior.
The Stars went 7-27 in 2016 and are 0-3 to start this year. Thursday will be their first chance to truly show a clear step forward as a team.
UPDATE: The Wings have released their injury report for the game as well. Guard Aerial Powers, who is recovering from hip surgery, is not with the team. Forward Evelyn Akhator, however, could make her season debut. She’s listed as probable.