Toledo native Natasha Howard will start for Team Wilson in her first all-star appearance.
WNBA all-star game captains Elena Delle Donne and A’ja Wilson selected their teams Tuesday night on television — the first time the league has done that. They will square off Saturday in Las Vegas in the all-star game.
Delle Donne had first pick of the starters and chose Phoenix’s Brittney Griner, saying she would let Wilson have her Las Vegas Aces teammates Liz Cambage and Kayla McBride. Wilson waited on choosing McBride and Cambage to the second and third rounds, picking Los Angeles point guard Chelsea Gray first.
Delle Donne of Washington rounded out her starters with Seattle’s Jewell Loyd, Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones, and New York’s Kia Nurse. Wilson added Howard as her other starter.
Howard, last season’s WNBA most improved player, ranks third in the league at 18.1 points per game. She is averaging 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks.
The two captains also made a trade of coaches, putting the Aces’ Bill Laimbeer with Wilson. Delle Donne’s group will now be coached by Mystics coach Mike Thibault.
The WNBA added festivities for the night before the all-star game with a 3-point shootout, skills competition, and beach party.
First Published July 24, 2019, 12:27 p.m.
