Three-time WNBA Champion and new WNBA all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi has been named a Western Conference starter for Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017, the league announced today. As part of the league’s new voting format, Taurasi was elected a starter by fans, media and current WNBA players. The Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017 Game will take place at KeyArena in Seattle on Saturday, July 22 and will be televised on ABC with tip-off taking place at 12:30 p.m. Phoenix time.
With this year’s selection, Taurasi has now been voted a starter in all eight (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017) of the All-Star games for which she has been eligible in her 13-season career (no All-Star Game in 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016; sat out 2015 season).
Already this season, Taurasi became the league’s all-time leading scorer (June 18) and all-time leader in three-pointers made (June 1), and was named Western Conference Player of the Week in early June. Averaging 18.1 points (7th-WNBA), her highest scoring average since 2013, Taurasi leads the WNBA in three-point makes (52) and is 11th in three-point percentage (40.3 percent, 52-of-129), the second-best mark of her career and highest since her 2009 WNBA MVP season.
Joining Taurasi in the Western Conference starting lineup are Sue Bird (Seattle) Maya Moore (Minnesota), Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles). The Eastern Conference starters will be comprised of Tiffany Hayes (Atlanta), Jasmine Thomas (Connecticut), Elena Delle Donne (Washington),Tina Charles (New York) and Jonquel Jones (Connecticut). All-Star reserves for the game will be announced on ESPN2 on Tuesday, July 18, during the game between the Seattle Storm and Chicago Sky. Owners of the best regular-season records in their respective conferences a season ago, Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve will coach the West, while New York’s Bill Laimbeer will be at the helm of the East.
History has been made! Diana Taurasi is the new all-time leading scorer in WNBA history as she attempts to lead the Mercury to a WNBA-record tying fourth championship. Tickets for the next Mercury home game on Wednesday, July 12, and the remaining seven regular-season Mercury home games, can be purchased by calling 602.252.WNBA or by visiting PhoenixMercury.com.