In a notable achievement for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, three players have been named starters for the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game, which is set to take place on July 25 at Chicago's United Center. Among the selected players is Olivia Miles, a standout rookie from Texas Christian University (TCU), who is the only first-year player among the ten starters.
Miles, currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx, has made a significant impact in her rookie season, helping the team achieve the best record in the league at 15-4, despite the absence of their star player, Napheesa Collier, due to injury. Throughout the season, Miles has averaged 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Prior to joining the WNBA, she led TCU to its second consecutive Elite Eight appearance in March.
Joining Miles in the starting lineup are Dallas Wings players Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard. Bueckers, who was named the Rookie of the Year last season, has continued to excel in her sophomore year, averaging 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, contributing to the Wings' current record of 11-8. This marks Bueckers' second consecutive All-Star starting selection.
The selection process for the All-Star starters involved a combination of fan, media, and player votes, with fans accounting for half of the total votes. Miles ranked fifth among fans, first with the media, and third with players, while Bueckers was the top choice among fans and players, and second with the media.
The remaining guards selected as starters include Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell from the Indiana Fever. Notably, Wings rookie Azzi Fudd, the first overall pick in the recent draft, ranked tenth among guards in the voting.
