A’ja Wilson drafts teammates for WNBA All-Star Game
July 2, 2022 - 2:35 pm
Aces players A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby will be teammates on a squad led by Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon in the WNBA All-Star Game.
The rosters for the July 10 game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago were selected Saturday, with Wilson, a co-captain who finished first in fan voting, drafting Team Wilson. Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart drafted Team Stewart, coached by James Wade of the Chicago Sky.
Wilson took Plum with her second pick, after selecting Candace Parker with the No. 1 overall pick. Stewart took the Aces’ Jackie Young with her first pick. Wilson, Plum and Young will start, and Hamby, also chosen by Wilson, will be a reserve.
Stewart traded for teammate Sue Bird during the draft.
Bird was set to be a co-captain with Wilson before Stewart pulled off the deal to acquire Bird for Sylvia Fowles. Bird and Fowles are set to retire at the end of the season and were named co-captains with Stewart and Wilson.
“We can do legend for legend. OK, I got that. I’m good with that,” Wilson said. ‘I feel good about that. We’re back on track. That was a good one.”
Bird will be playing in her record 13th All-Star Game, and Fowles will be in her eighth.
The game will be televised by ABC, with tipoff at 10 a.m.
WNBA All-Star Game
Team Wilson
Coach: Becky Hammon, Aces
Starters
Sabrina Ionescu G Liberty
Sylvia Fowles F Lynx
Candace Parker F Sky
Kelsey Plum G Aces
A'ja Wilson F Aces
Reserves
Ariel Atkins G Mystics
Dearica Hamby F Aces
Natasha Howard F Liberty
Rhyne Howard G Dream
Brionna Jones F Sun
Courtney Vandersloot G Sky
Team Stewart
Coach: James Wade, Sky
Starters
Sue Bird G Storm
Jonquel Jones F Sun
Nneka Ogwumike F Sparks
Breanna Stewart F Storm
Jackie Young G Aces
Reserves
Kahleah Copper G Sky
Skylar Diggins-Smith G Mercury
Jewell Loyd G Storm
Emma Meesseman F Sky
Arike Ogunbowale G Wings
Alyssa Thomas F Sun