WNBA All-star starters include Shoni, SkyDig, BG

[Gate81]

the anti-Stanford bias in play again? Neither Ogwumike voted in, though I have to think they both get in via the coaches. Look at their numbers (especially Chiney's) relative to others voted in - though who can argue against Moore, Griner and Parker? Agreed the West looks like it will mop the floor with the East.

 

[MilfordHusky]

the anti-Stanford bias in play again? Neither Ogwumike voted in, though I have to think they both get in via the coaches. Look at their numbers (especially Chiney's) relative to others voted in - though who can argue against Moore, Griner and Parker? Agreed the West looks like it will mop the floor with the East.

Is there an anti-Stanford bias?

Both sisters have a good shot at being a reserve, which would be really cool for them.

 

[lanieer]

If I'm Shoni I'm honored that the fans chose me but embarrassed around my teammates and other team players. The fact a "rookie" sub was voted in is really ridiculous. I can name so many other deserving players but at least Bentley should be in there instead of Shoni. I guess Atlanta and ESPN did enough hype to get her an enormous amount of votes. To me that is embarrassing to the WNBA. One day she will be a terrific player but she needs to be a more consistant starter before she would get my vote as one of the top two guards in the conference.

 

[Striper69]

the anti-Stanford bias in play again? Neither Ogwumike voted in, though I have to think they both get in via the coaches. Look at their numbers (especially Chiney's) relative to others voted in - though who can argue against Moore, Griner and Parker? Agreed the West looks like it will mop the floor with the East.

I voted for both of them almost everyday. It's all on the fans. More should've voted for them.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

If I'm Shoni I'm honored that the fans chose me but embarrassed around my teammates and other team players. The fact a "rookie" sub was voted in is really ridiculous. I can name so many other deserving players but at least Bentley should be in there instead of Shoni. I guess Atlanta and ESPN did enough hype to get her an enormous amount of votes. To me that is embarrassing to the WNBA. One day she will be a terrific player but she needs to be a more consistant starter before she would get my vote as one of the top two guards in the conference.

Remember, the All-Star game is a popularity contest - if you want to know who is "first team WNBA" you have to wait to the end of the season.

I also don't see blaming this one on ESPN - not that I have been watching much, but it looked to me from the voting that Atlanta, along with Phoenix and Minnesota, did get a bit of the vote out (including players not in the top 5 vote getters) more so than other franchises. Interesting that they are also the more successful franchises this season.

In any case, Shoni has her own following and if she is that popular, good for her. Catchings hardly would deserve it if it wasn't a popularity / respect contest, since she only played 2 games to that point as well.

It isn't embarrassing to the WNBA at all, any more than the All-Star game is a "real" game.

 

[Orangutan]

Is there an anti-Stanford bias?

Both sisters have a good shot at being a reserve, which would be really cool for them.

I don't think so. Just other players that are better. I was voting Griner, Parker, Moore for West forwards and McCoughtry, Delle Donne, Breland/De Souza (depending on how much of a homer I felt like that day). I really wanted to voted for Nneka, but I just felt like Griner deserved it a little more.

 

[Striper69]

Shoni's happy about being picked.

 

[MilfordHusky]

When fans vote, it is a popularity contest. It used to be about who the best players were ... or who was having the best year. Given the small number of votes, relative to MLB, for example, it's easy for a small group to impact the selections.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Angel has surprised me this year. Not sure why the change or maybe the influence but she is more selfless.

I've never really thought of Angel as selfish. She can be out of control emotionally and make bad decisions, but she's ultra competitive. She wants to win as much as anyone, but her experience has been that she needs to do all the heavy lifting. Now that she is surrounded by talent, she needs to blend her game with those of her teammates. She seems to be doing a nice job of that this season. One of the hallmarks of former UConn players is good shot selection. If Angel has learned that, her team will compete for the championship. Teams are very fallible when their stars are forced to shoot a high volume of low percentage shots.

 

[wallman]

I've never really thought of Angel as selfish. She can be out of control emotionally and make bad decisions, but she's ultra competitive. She wants to win as much as anyone, but her experience has been that she needs to do all the heavy lifting. Now that she is surrounded by talent, she needs to blend her game with those of her teammates. She seems to be doing a nice job of that this season. One of the hallmarks of former UConn players is good shot selection. If Angel has learned that, her team will compete for the championship. Teams are very fallible when their stars are forced to shoot a high volume of low percentage shots.

Point taken, bad decision making for sure.

 

[FairView]

I agree. It don't seem fair too have Maya, Diana, and Candace on the same team.

The coaches of every national team that isn't spelled USA would agree with you.

 

[meyers7]

Do WNBA players have bonus incentives in their contracts (making an All-Star game)?

I thought so, but googling around I don't see that in any articles about salaries and bonuses. They have bonuses for stuff like making playoffs, 1st/2nd team WNBA, MVP, etc but I don't see anything for All-Star. Hmmmm

 

[Striper69]

I've never really thought of Angel as selfish. She can be out of control emotionally and make bad decisions, but she's ultra competitive. She wants to win as much as anyone, but her experience has been that she needs to do all the heavy lifting. Now that she is surrounded by talent, she needs to blend her game with those of her teammates. She seems to be doing a nice job of that this season. One of the hallmarks of former UConn players is good shot selection. If Angel has learned that, her team will compete for the championship. Teams are very fallible when their stars are forced to shoot a high volume of low percentage shots.

Last season she was always getting mad at her teammates and wore a scrowl quite a lot. She was taking a lot of bad shots- forcing up shots with more than one player guarding her.

Out of control. Looks like Coop has got her under control of herself.

 

[Striper69]

Bentley not being on the ballot pretty much guaranteed Shoni would be voted in. I was using the "write-in" feature to vote Bentley, but most people won't, so who else was it going to be?

Wouldn't have made a difference. There's a built in huge following of Schimmel. Many are not computer wise or there would've been even more votes.