MN Lynx Lindsay Whalen Named All-Star Reserve

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The WNBA tonight announced Lindsay Whalen was voted by coaches as a reserve for the 2015 Western Conference All-Star team. Due to Whalen’s eye injury suffered in Sunday’s game at Tulsa, she will not play in the Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015, however, this would be Whalen‘s fifth career All-Star appearance (2006, 2011, 2013, 2014).

Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015, featuring the Eastern Conference All-Stars against the Western Conference All-Stars at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., will be nationally televised by ABC on Saturday, July 25, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Playing in her fifth season in Minnesota and 12th in the WNBA, Whalen is averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game on 47.2% shooting from the floor this season. Whalen was named Western Conference Player of the Week for June 22-28, her 7th career honor, after tallying 21 points against Phoenix on June 27. The game marked her second 20+ outing this season and the 52nd of her career.

Joining Whalen as backcourt reserves are Seattle’s Sue Bird, DeWanna Bonner of the Phoenix Mercury, Danielle Robinson of the San Antonio Stars, while Nneka Ogwumike of Los Angeles and Plenette Pierson of Tulsa were voted in as frontcourt reserves. For the Eastern Conference, Alex Bentley of Connecticut, Marissa Coleman of Indiana and Cappie Pondexter of the Chicago Sky will serve as backcourt reserves. Kelsey Bone of the Sun, Stefanie Dolson of Washington and Emma Meesseman of Washington were voted in as frontcourt reserves. In selecting the reserves, the 12 WNBA head coaches voted for six players within their own conference: two backcourt players, three frontcourt players, and a player from either position.  Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. 

Alongside Moore and Augustus, starters for the Western Conference include Phoenix’s Brittney Griner, Phoenix’s Candice Dupree and Tulsa’s Skylar Diggins, The Eastern Conference starters are Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry and Shoni Shcimmel, Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne, New York’s Tina Charles and Indiana’s Tamika Catchings.

In the case of players who are unable to play due to injury – such as Skylar Diggins, Seimone Augustus, and Lindsay Whalen – replacement players will be named by WNBA President Laurel J. Richie.  Any changes to the starting lineup necessitated by injury will subsequently be made by the head coach of the respective All-Star team.

Eastern Conference Reserves:
Alex Bentley, Backcourt (Connecticut)
Kelsey Bone, Frontcourt (Connecticut)
Marissa Coleman, Backcourt (Indiana)
Stefanie Dolson, Frontcourt (Washington)
Emma Meesseman, Frontcourt (Washington)
Cappie Pondexter, Backcourt (Chicago)
Western Conference Reserves:
Sue Bird, Backcourt (Seattle)
DeWanna Bonner, Backcourt (Phoenix)
Nneka Ogwumike, Frontcourt (Los Angeles)
Plenette Pierson, Frontcourt (Tulsa)
Danielle Robinson, Backcourt (San Antonio)
Lindsay Whalen, Backcourt (Minnesota)

Wednesday’s game vs. Connecticut is the annual “Camp Day” game, with over 17,000 day campers and fans from across the state invading Target Center. Kids will be participating in on-court contests throughout the game, which tips off at 12 p.m. Tickets are still available by calling 612-673-8400 or by visiting lynxbasketball.com/lynxtix.