Pheesa Named All-Star Participant

Minnesotal Lynx rookie and former UConn star Napheesa Collier has been
named a participant in the WNBA All-Star Game. Arguably the league's top
first-year player, Pheesa was originally passed on, but will take the place of
injured A'ja Wilson of Las Vegas. Wilson, however, will remain captain of
one team, with Elena Delle Donne captain of the other team.

NEW YORK—Call this one a huge helping of poetic justice. Minnesota Lynx rookie forward Napheesa Collier has been named by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to replace injured Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson at WNBA All-Star 2019.

The 22-year Collier, a former UConn star, was the sixth pick overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She ranks third in scoring (11.0 ppg), second in rebounds (5.9 rpg) and blocks (1.0 bpg), and first in steals (1.9 spg) among the Lynx as well as the league’s rookies.

Wilson will be unable to play in the WNBA All-Star Game after suffering an ankle injury on Friday when the Aces played the Seattle Storm.

WNBA All-Star 2019, featuring Team (Elena) Delle Donne vs. Team (A’ja) Wilson, will be played on Saturday, July 27 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, home of the Aces. The 16th WNBA All-Star Game will be televised live by ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.

As the two All-Star starters who finished with the most fan votes during WNBA All-Star Voting 2019, Delle Donne and Wilson are serving as team captains and will draft the All-Star Game rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves. (Although Wilson is injured and will not play, she remains captain of her team.) ESPN2 will air the WNBA All-Star Team Selection Special on Tuesday, July 23, at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Delle Donne and Wilson will select their respective rosters in the WNBA All-Star Draft by choosing first from the remaining pool of eight starters.  By virtue of finishing with the most fan votes, Delle Donne will make the first pick in the First Round (Starters).  Wilson will have the first pick in the Second Round (Reserves) then from the pool of 13 reserves, which now includes Collier.

A player will be named to replace Wilson in the starting lineup by the head coach.

—Staff Reports

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