Three of the best backcourt players in WNBA history and a group of impact young post players headline the WNBA All-Star reserves, which were announced Tuesday by the league.
Seattle point guard Sue Bird, Minnesota point guard Lindsay Whalen and Chicago guard Cappie Pondexter all make their returns to the WNBA All-Star rosters for Saturday's game at the Mohegan Sun (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).
The reserves also include some of the league's best young frontcourt players, including Los Angeles forward Nneka Ogwumike, Washington's Stefanie Dolson and Emma Meesseman and Connecticut's Kelsey Bone.
The announcement of the WNBA All-Star reserves comes after last week's announcement of the game's starters, headlined by leading vote-getter Elena Delle Donne.
Bird is making her ninth appearance on the All-Star team, trailing only Tamika Catchings for most appearances, and her second in a row. She's averaging 10.1 points and 5.4 assists per game on a Storm team that's leaning heavily on young talent.
Whalen, who is making her sixth appearance on the All-Star team and third in a row, is averaging 11.7 PPG for the Lynx, who have the best record in the WNBA. Whalen is not expected to play, however, after she was poked and suffered an eye injury in Sunday's game against Tulsa.
Pondexter, who is thriving again on the offensive end after being traded from New York to Chicago, is an All-Star for the seventh time and the third time in a row. She is averaging 16.4 PPG for the Sky, second behind Delle Donne.
Ogwumike is making her third All-Star appearance in as many seasons in the league. She missed the first four games of the season with an ankle injury, but leads the struggling Sparks in both scoring (17.9 PPG) and rebounding (10.5 RPG).
Dolson and Messeeman, who are both making their All-Star Game debuts, have combined to average 26.4 PPG this season, each shooting better than 54 percent from the floor.
Bone is also a first-time All-Star. She is the Sun's second-leading scorer at 15.4 PPG.
Connecticut guard Alex Bentley and Indiana forward Marissa Coleman round out the Eastern Conference reserves. Bentley is having a breakout season, leading the Sun in scoring at 17.1 PPG, and Coleman is having the best season of her seven-year career; in her first season with the Fever, she is averaging 13.0 PPG.
The Western Conference reserves also include Phoenix guard DeWanna Bonner, who has once again picked up the Mercury's scoring slack in the absence of superstar Diana Taurasi, as well as Tulsa forward Plenette Pierson and San Antonio point guard Danielle Robinson. Bonner is averaging 17.1 PPG as the Mercury have reeled off six wins in seven games.
Pierson, a 12-year veteran who is making her first All-Star game appearance, has brought experience and offense to the Shocks' frontcourt. She is averaging a career-best 12.9 PPG. Robinson, meanwhile, is leading a struggling Stars team at 11.2 PPG and 4.9 APG. Robinson is making her third straight All-Star appearance.
In addition to Whalen's absence, Tulsa's Skylar Diggins was voted a starter but is unable to play because of a season-ending knee injury. Fellow West starter Seimone Augustus is also out after arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this month. Replacement players, as named by WNBA president Laurel Richie, won't be announced until later this week.
Minnesota and Phoenix lead the way with three All-Stars players apiece. Seven former No. 1 WNBA draft picks, including Bird and Oguwmike, were selected for the All-Star Game.
