Seattle Storm’s Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ezi Magbegor headline All-Snub crew

There are solely 144 roster spots within the WNBA, which makes it an elite membership. And the All-Star Recreation, with 24 spots, is the elite of the elite. It’s an honor to simply be thought-about for participation. Listed below are 5 gamers who might make a sound case for showing on this 12 months’s sport in Phoenix

Marina Mabrey (Chicago Sky)

Marina Mabrey is without doubt one of the finest long-distance shooters within the WNBA. Final season was the perfect of her profession, a minimum of statistically, however she actually shined within the EuroLeague, the place she took ÇBK Mersin to the Remaining 4 because the crew’s major playmaker. She averaged 17.5 factors and 5.3 assists in Europe’s prime competitors, and was the primary cause the Turkish crew performed so nicely. This season for the Chicago Sky, she’s taking pictures much less, however she’s averaging profession highs in rebounds (5.0) and assists (4.3) per sport, proving she’s prepared to do no matter it takes for the Sky to win. Sure, the All-Star Recreation is about particular person stars, however athletes who sacrifice their individualism also needs to be rewarded for his or her efforts. And Mabrey is on the prime of that checklist.

Skylar Diggins-Smith (Seattle Storm)

Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos

Ain’t nothing like momma’s cooking, and this mother is again from her second maternity depart to dish out some nice delicacies. Skylar Diggins-Smith’s 6.3 assists per sport this season is her profession excessive, and contemplating she has made the All-Star crew six occasions in her profession, that’s no small achievement. In her first season with the Seattle Storm, Diggins-Smith is operating among the best groups within the league, regardless of the crew’s important stars enjoying with one another for the primary time. She’s a confirmed veteran chief and—undoubtedly—might maintain her personal towards Workforce USA in Phoenix.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (New York Liberty)

Photograph by Michael Hickey/Getty Photos

After already making the case for an additional All-Star snub, the Connecticut Solar’s DiJonai Carrington, again when she nonetheless had an opportunity of creating the crew, comparable arguments can be utilized when speaking about Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Like Carrington, the New York Liberty ahead is an elite defender. In contrast to Carrington, she already has one All-Star look beneath her belt and has made the All-Defensive Workforce twice. Contemplating her previous achievements, possibly the bar was increased for her? Possibly protection isn’t marketable? However, in case you’re Workforce USA and getting ready for the Olympics, don’t you need to face prime defenders? Or, possibly Laney-Hamilton was overshadowed by the opposite three Liberty gamers—Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones—who we’ll see in Phoenix? The very fact of the matter is, Laney-Hamilton is averaging 12.7 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per sport on the perfect crew within the league, all whereas serving because the crew’s prime defender. She deserves an All-Star spot.

Alanna Smith (Minnesota Lynx)

Photograph by Jordan Johnson/NBAE through Getty Photos

Previous to the season, one would count on Dorka Juhász to be on this spot because the participant to make the leap and turn out to be the third possibility on the Minnesota Lynx; nevertheless, Alanna Smith’s play merely has been too good to disregard. She’s the one who permits Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride to shine on offense by setting screens, offering second-chance factors and, extra importantly, stretching the ground. She’s changing 46 p.c of her 3s, averaging 11.8 factors, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a couple of.0 rebounds per sport. The Commissioner’s Cup winners wouldn’t be the place they’re immediately with out Smith and the Australian large deserved a ticket to Phoenix.

Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm)

Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos

Ezi Magbegor is the third elite defender on this checklist. Her averages of 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.6 steals per sport are all profession highs. She’s additionally scoring 13.4 factors and doling out 2.6 assists per sport. Final 12 months, lesser numbers have been sufficient for her to make her first All-Star crew whereas enjoying on a foul Seattle Storm crew. Now, with Seattle again within the championship image, one would assume that she’d be a surefire coaches’ choose. Hopefully, she gained’t be deterred by the snub and can proceed to make her case for Defensive Participant of the Yr.