Mercury’s Diana Taurasi named WNBA All-Star starter
Jul 11, 2017, 11:58 AM | Updated: 12:25 pm
Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi shoots as Connecticut Sun's Kelly Faris, left, defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
It’s almost a given at this point that if eligible, the Mercury’s Diana Taurasi will be a starter in the WNBA All-Star Game.
So when the starters were announced Tuesday, it was no surprise that for the eighth time in her career Taurasi made the cut.
She’s averaging 18.1 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 threes per game, and on June 18 became the league’s all-time leading scorer.
In her first seven starting selections, Taursai was chosen solely by the fans, but this season the fans made up just 50 percent of the vote, with the other 50 percent being split up between the media and current players.
Taurasi has not been an all-star six times in her career, although in 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 there was not a game and in 2015 she sat out the season.
The reserves that will join Taurasi in Seattle will be announced next Tuesday, July 18. The game itself will take place on Saturday, July 22 and be shown on ABC at 12:30 p.m. Arizona time.
