The WNBA revealed its 12 reserve selections for this month’s All-Star Game on Monday, with Marina Mabrey earning her first-ever All-Star nod and Nneka Ogwumike picking up an impressive 11th appearance in the showcase.
Angel Reese, Kelsey Plum, and Jonquel Jones are among the well-known names who will make their way to Chicago for the July 25 contest. The starting lineup had already been announced prior to Monday’s reserve announcement.
As part of the league’s 30th anniversary festivities, WNBA legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon will take on the role of honorary general managers, drafting the teams for this year’s game.
While starters were determined through a combination of fan, player, and media voting, the 12 reserves were selected by the league’s 15 head coaches — with the rule that no coach could vote for their own players. Selections were made without regard to conference affiliation.
Mabrey, 29, is making her All-Star debut in her eighth WNBA season. She joined the expansion Toronto Tempo during the offseason and last month tied the league’s single-game records with 53 points and nine three-pointers against the Los Angeles Sparks. This season she is averaging a career-best 21.1 points per game, along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Her 67 three-pointers tie her for the league lead, shooting 39.9% from beyond the arc.
The other first-time All-Star among the reserves is Seattle’s Dominique Malonga. The 20-year-old is leading the Storm with 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in just her second WNBA season.
Ogwumike, who celebrated her 36th birthday this month, earned her 11th All-Star selection — tying Diana Taurasi for second-most in league history, trailing only Sue Bird’s 13. In the opening year of her second stint with the Los Angeles Sparks, she is posting 16.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Reese has now been selected to the All-Star Game in each of her three seasons in the league, though this marks her first selection as a member of the Atlanta Dream. Through 21 games, she is averaging a career-high 14.9 points per game and leads the entire league with 11.8 rebounds per game.
Reese was one of three Atlanta Dream players named as reserves, joined by teammates Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. The backcourt reserves also include Sonia Citron of Washington, Plum from Los Angeles, Courtney Williams of Minnesota, and Jackie Young of Las Vegas. Kiki Iriafen of Washington and Jones of New York round out the frontcourt reserve spots.
All-Star Starters:
Aliyah Boston, Indiana; Paige Bueckers, Dallas; Caitlin Clark, Indiana; Natasha Howard, Minnesota; Olivia Miles, Minnesota; Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana; Jessica Shepard, Dallas; Breanna Stewart, New York; Gabby Williams, Golden State; A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
All-Star Backcourt Reserves:
Sonia Citron, Washington; Allisha Gray, Atlanta; Rhyne Howard, Atlanta; Marina Mabrey, Toronto; Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles; Courtney Williams, Minnesota; Jackie Young, Las Vegas
All-Star Frontcourt Reserves:
Kiki Iriafen, Washington; Jonquel Jones, New York; Dominique Malonga, Seattle; Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles; Angel Reese, Atlanta
