All-Star rundown

In case you missed today’s article in the Bulletin, here’s a complete list of the WNBA All-Star rosters, starters and reserves included.

Eastern Conference:
Starters:
Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), forward
Cheryl Ford (Detroit Shock), forward
Deanna Nolan (Detroit Shock), guard
Anna DeForge (Indiana Fever), guard
Kara Braxton (Detroit Shock), center

Reserves:
Katie Douglas (Connecticut Sun), guard
Alana Beard (Washington Mystics), guard
Tammy Sutton-Brown (Indiana Fever), center
Candice Dupree (Chicago Sky), forward
DeLisha Milton-Jones (Washington Mystics), forward
Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), forward

Coach: Bill Laimbeer (Detroit Shock)

Western Conference:
Starters:
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), forward
Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm), forward
Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), guard
Becky Hammon (San Antonio Silver Stars), guard
Yolanda Griffith (Sacramento Monarchs), center

Reserves:
Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), guard
Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury), guard
Taj McWilliams-Franklin (L.A. Sparks), center
Tina Thompson (Houston Comets), forward
Rebekkah Brunson (Sacramento Monarchs), forward
Penny Taylor (Phoenix Mercury), forward

Coach: Jenny Boucek (Sacramento Monarchs)

Some reaction from Connecticut Sun players and coach (from press release):
Asjha Jones (16.4 points, 6.5 rebounds per game; first-time selection)
“It’s an honor to be considered in the same context with all of those great players,” Jones said. “I have been working hard and it’s nice to be recognized for my growth as a player.”

Katie Douglas (16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.2 steals per game; two-time selection)
“It’s always exciting to make the All-Star game,” Douglas said. “I have great memories from last year and I’m looking forward to another great experience.”

Mike Thibault (Sun coach on Douglas and Jones)
“They deserve to be on the All-Star team,” Thibault said. “They have played like All-Stars. Katie proved how good she was last year, not only in the All-Star game but in the totality of her season, and I’ve said all year that Asjha could be our next All-Star.”

Notes:
(1) The Detroit Shock, Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury led all teams with three selections each. New York, currently third in the East, was the only team not have a player named.

Essentially, Catherine Kraayeveld (11.3 points, 5.39 rebounds per game) was passed over for hometown player, DeLisha Milton-Jones (14 points, 5.72 rebounds) of Washington. It’s a close call, though it’s hard to argue the conference’s last place team deserved two selections while one of it best – and most surprising teams – deserved none.

(2) Sue Bird will need to be replaced on the roster, as she is out for the next two weeks or so after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove “particles” from her left knee.

If she is replaced by guard, two good candidates are her teammate Betty Lennox (12.5 points, 3.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 93.5 free-throw percentage) or San Antonio’s Erin Buescher (11.9 points, 6.41 rebounds, 2.06 steals, 2.4 assists per game), though as she’s moved into the starting lineup, the listed guard has played more forward.