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Source: Rebekkah Brunson will be West all star replacement

By Howard Megdal

ST. PAUL, MN - JULY 6: Rebekkah Brunson
ST. PAUL, MN - JULY 6: Rebekkah Brunson /
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Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson will be named the injury replacement for the Western Conference all star spot that opened up due to Brittney Griner’s injury, a league source told The Summitt.

Brunson, a three-time all star, is enjoying a combination of a vintage year and a new renaissance in this, her fourteenth season. She’s averaging 10.8 points per game, her best scoring performance since 2012, and remains both a strong rebounder and elite defender.

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But it is her perimeter shooting that represents a shift in both her overall game and the offensive versatility of the Minnesota Lynx. She is shooting 41 percent from three, which ranks in the top ten in the league, while taking 2.3 shots from beyond the arc per game.

As a result, the Lynx are averaging 109.3 points per 100 possessions, good for the top spot in the league. Alas, Brunson is not one of the five players selected to participate in the three-point contest, which would further highlight her work from deep.

UNCASVILLE, CT – JULY 26: Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus of the Western Conference All-Stars pose for a portrait during the WNBA All-Star Media Circuit on July 26, 2013 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – JULY 26: Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus of the Western Conference All-Stars pose for a portrait during the WNBA All-Star Media Circuit on July 26, 2013 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The loss of Griner is a significant one to the star power of the weekend, though. Griner is already one of the most prominent players in the league, particularly known for her dunks, but 2017 has been something of a breakthrough season for her. She’s improved her player efficiency rating from 21 in 2016 to 29.7 in 2017, good for third in the league so far this season, trailing only Sylvia Fowles and Nneka Ogwumike.

The official announcement of Brunson replacing Griner and the East replacement for Elena Delle Donne, who will miss the game after injuring her ankle, is expected sometime Wednesday.

The WNBA All Star Game will take place on Saturday, July 22 at 3:30 PM EST, and can be seen on ABC. The three-point contest is scheduled for halftime of the game.

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