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WNBA All-Star Game 2018: 22-Player Roster Pool Announced

By Joseph Zucker

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics handles the ball against Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA basketball game at Staples Center on July 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics handles the ball against Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA basketball game at Staples Center on July 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /
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WNBA All-Star Game Pool Announced; Team Rosters to Come Thursday

The WNBA revealed Tuesday night the 22 players named to the 2018 All-Star Game.

Unlike the traditional format with the All-Star roster, the league scrapped the Eastern Conference and Western Conference designations. Instead, the top 22 vote getters independent of conference earned an All-Star Game berth.

The top two in votes received were Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne. Moore, however, declined her captaincy, though she plans to play in the game, so Candace Parker, who finished third, will be the captain opposite Delle Donne.

Here’s a look at the All-Star pool:

2018 WNBA All-Stars

Guards

Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx

Sue Bird, Seattle Storm

Skylar Diggins-Smith, Dallas Wings

Chelsea Gray, Los Angeles Sparks

Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm

Kayla McBride, Las Vegas Aces

Allie Quigley, Chicago Sky

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury

Kristi Toliver, Washington Mystics

Frontcourt

DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix Mercury

Liz Cambage, Dallas Wings

Tina Charles, New York Liberty

Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics

Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx

Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream

Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun

Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks

Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird made history. She’s an All-Star for the 11th time, passing Tamika Catchings for the most All-Star nods in WNBA history.

At 37 years old, Bird is enjoying one of the most efficient seasons of her legendary career. According to Basketball Reference, she’s averaging a career-high 9.6 assists while turning the ball over 2.7 times per 36 minutes.

Bird’s backcourt mate Jewell Loyd earned her first All-Star appearance. Loyd is posting career highs in rebounds (4.8) and assists (3.7) and ranks 16th in win shares (2.5), per Basketball Reference.

Players from the East may revolt over the new process. Three of the top four and five of the top eight teams come out of the West, and that bled over into the All-Star Game. The West has 16 All-Stars, compared to 6 for the East.

Atlanta Dream guard Tiffany Hayes is one of the bigger casualties of the revamped All-Star vote, missing out despite an elite season on both ends of the floor. The same can be said for Diamond DeShields of the Chicago Sky.

But Natasha Howard of the Storm has a good case as well. The standout forward is tenth in the league in win shares.

Team captains Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker will hold an All-Star draft to fill out the rosters for the respective teams. Those will be announced Thursday during the ESPN2 broadcast of the Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings.

The All-Star Game itself is scheduled for July 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET at Target Center in Minneapolis.

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