July 6, 2017
The WNBA, formally known as the Women’s National Basketball Association, will be hosting the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Verizon in Seattle, Washington for the first time in league history. Home to the Seattle Storm, the WNBA will host a number of world-class athletes at the Key Arena on July 22, 2017. Sue Bird, a 9x WNBA All-Star and a 2x WNBA Champion, seems very excited about hosting the event this summer. “Seattle has the best fans in the WNBA, and I am so proud to be hosting Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017 in our hometown,” said Bird in an interview. Well I look forward to watching Sue Bird run the floor with the best of the best this year. Check out my Top 5 picks for who I want to see in the All-Star Game! (Click each player’s picture)
VOTE FOR YOUR WNBA ALL-STARS HERE.
#1 Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
She has proclaimed herself to be the “White Mamba”, as a compliment to the now retired legend Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), who holds the popular title Black Mamba as an ode to his demeanor and skills on the court.
Well she’s earned it! I’m definitely a KOBE fan (that’s basically my Uncle) so the nickname makes it even sweeter. Nonetheless, Taurasi is the best guard in the WNBA without question. On July 22nd against the Seattle Storm, she broke the all-time record for points scored in a single career by passing Tina Thompson, WNBA Hall-of-,Fame inductee, with a total of 7,494 points at the end of the game. What makes it even more of a thrill is THE SEASON ISN’T OVER! Only in her 13th season, I can easily say that Diana Taurasi has plenty of game left in her.
#2 Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics)
At just 27 years old, Elena Delle Donne (aka. Elle Delle Donne) has accomplished the following:
- Rio Olympics – Gold Medalist (Basketball)
- WNBA League MVP – 2015
- 3x WNBA All-Star Pick
- WNBA Rookie of the Year – 2013
Recently traded to the Washington Mystics, Donne has made a dominant impact on the team and is a wonderful collaborator. She is currently ranked 2nd in the league for Free Throw percentage, and 5th for Average points per game. No, she hasn’t won a ring yet.. but she is destined for a WNBA Title because of her hunger and passion for the game. The Mystics have performed well as a unit this season – hopefully we will make a statement in the playoffs, with Delle Donne leading the pack.
#3 Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
Baylor University class of 2013. She is by far one of the most athletic women in the league. Brittney Griner, in just her 2nd season as a WNBA player, secured a WNBA Championship title with the Phoenix Mercury. Since then, Griner has won a Gold medal from the Rio Olympic Games, she’s made All-WNBA first team (2014), led the league in blocks four seasons in a row (2013-2016), and is currently leading the league in scoring with an average of 23.1 points per game. Besides all of that, umm.. SHE CAN DUNK! I mean why wouldn’t you want to see her on the court in the All-Star game? Griner definitely has a spot on the WNBA’s Top 5 this Summer.
#4 Alana Beard (Los Angeles Sparks)
One of my favorite guards in the WNBA since childhood, I still have the throwback signed poster of Alana Beard in her Washington Mystics jersey. Beard is one of the league’s veterans, and she still is ranked among the Top 5 with the 3rd highest field goal percentage at 60.8% this season. Aside from her solid handles, Alana Beard is known for her aggression on the court and accurate shooting. She has a great floor presence with All-Star, Candace Parker, to bring emphasis in the paint. After winning her first WNBA Championship title (2016), I definitely think Alana has earned her spot in the 2017 All-Star Game.
#5 “All-Star Rookie Pick” Tayler Hill (Washington Mystics)
Tayler Hill has been playing in the WNBA since the 2013 regular season. She was pretty quiet in the first few years of her career; and she became a mother for the first time during her 2014 season. Stronger than ever, Hill stepped her game up in Summer 2016 averaging 15.4 points per game in the regular season. Only halfway through the season and Hill has been averaging a career high of 16.2 points per game this year! She is also ranked 4th in the league with a 92.5%free throw percentage. Plus she plays for my HOME TEAM! Tayler Hill has the potential to rank among the top 5 guards in the league if she continues to improve each year and dominate on the both ends of the court.
Thanks for Reading! Cast your vote at the link above to select YOUR favorite WNBA stars to play in this Summer’s All-Star Game presented by Verizon. 🙂
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