SEATTLE, July 21, 2017 – Forward Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun was named
a starter by Eastern Conference head coach Curt Miller for Verizon WNBA All-Star
2017, replacing the injured Elena Delle Donne of the Washington Mystics.
Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017, featuring the Eastern Conference All-Stars against
the Western Conference All-Stars at KeyArena in Seattle, will be nationally
televised by ABC tomorrow (3:30 p.m. ET).
BREAKING: @athomas_25 of @ConnecticutSun to replace injured Elena Delle Donne in East starting lineup at #WNBAAllStar (Sat, 3:30 pm/ET, ABC) pic.twitter.com/viTkbCdxzP
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 21, 2017
A first-time All-Star selection, Thomas was voted to the East roster by the
conference’s head coaches this week. Delle Donne, one of 10 players selected by
fans, WNBA players and media to start in Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017, suffered a
sprained ankle on July 14.
With career-high averages in scoring (13.6 ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg), assists
(4.8 apg) and steals (1.6 spg), Thomas has helped Connecticut overcome a 1-5
start to post a 12-9 record, tied for third-best in the league with Washington.
She and fellow All-Star starters Jasmine Thomas and Jonquel Jones earlier this
season became the first trio of teammates in WNBA history to earn Player of the
Week honors in three consecutive weeks. Jones, herself, has earned Player of the
Week honors twice in 2017.
The Connecticut trio will be in the East starting lineup alongside frontcourt
player Tina Charles of the New York Liberty and guard Tiffany Hayes of the
Atlanta Dream.
Individual tickets for Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017 start at just $15 and can be
purchased at StormBasketball.com, or by dialing 206-217-WNBA (9622).
The 2017 WNBA regular season runs through Sept. 3. For more information on the
WNBA and game tickets, fans may visit www.wnba.com.
Here’s an updated look at the East and West starters:
Eastern Conference Starters
— Tina Charles, Liberty: A five-time All-Star selection, this marks the
third time the 2012 league MVP is an All-Star starter (2011, 2015). She
has been an All-Star with both Connecticut and New York.
— Alyssa Thomas, Sun: Putting up career-high averages in scoring (13.6
ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg), assists (4.8 apg) and steals (1.6 spg),
Thomas has helped Connecticut overcome a 1-5 start to post the
third-best record in the league (12-8).
— Tiffany Hayes, Dream: The first-time All-Star earned the most votes
among East guards from all three voting groups. She is averaging career
highs of 16.6 points and 4.5 rebounds.
— Jonquel Jones, Sun: Before the season, the 23-year-old from the Bahamas
was voted by WNBA general managers as the player most likely to have a
breakout year. With 201 rebounds through 17 games, the first-time
All-Star is on pace to top Charles’ single-season record for total
rebounds (398 in 2010).
— Jasmine Thomas, Sun: A first-time All-Star selection in her seventh
season, Thomas previously played for Washington and Atlanta. She is
averaging career highs of 15.0 points and 5.2 assists.
Western Conference Starters
— Sue Bird, Storm: The 10-time All-Star selection was voted to the
starting lineup for the eighth time overall and for the first time since
2011. In her most recent All-Star appearances, she was added to the West
roster in 2014 as a replacement player and was named as a reserve in
2015. Her first All-Star appearance and starting nod came in her rookie
season of 2002.
— Sylvia Fowles, Lynx: The Western Conference Player of the Month in May
and June earns her fourth All-Star selection. This marks her third
starting nod and first All-Star selection with the Lynx after
representing Chicago three times.
— Maya Moore, Lynx: The 2014 WNBA MVP and 2013 Finals MVP is a five-time
All-Star selection, all as a starter. She was named 2015 All-Star Game
MVP after scoring a record 30 points.
— Candace Parker, Sparks: The two-time WNBA MVP (2008, 2013) and reigning
Finals MVP earns her fourth selection, all as starter. After missing the
2011 All-Star Game due to injury, Parker made her All-Star debut in 2013
and scored a then-record 23 points in an MVP performance.
— Diana Taurasi, Mercury: The 2009 regular-season MVP and two-time Finals
MVP (2009, 2014) became the WNBA’s career points leader last month. A
three-time WNBA champion, Taurasi is an eight-time All-Star selection,
all as a starter.
