The Greatest Players Will Shine in WNBA's All Star Game

LOVIN THE WNBA

with

Bell Fuller

This Saturday some of the greatest female athletes in the world will gather in Connecticut for the WNBA All-Star game. We are upon a new, very exciting era in the WNBA as we have some of the league’s legendary players still in their prime such as Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker joining a new regime of supremely talented rookies in MVP candidate Elena Delle Donne and the most heralded player the league has seen in some time in Brittney Griner- this is EXCITING.

Greatest women basketball players in the world gather at yearly at the WNBA All Star game

Those premiere players mentioned are also joined by a bevy of veterans who are making their debut in the All Star game in Nneka Ogwumike, Allison Hightower, Ivory Latta, Shavonte Zellous, Danielle Robinson and Glory Johnson. This combination of legendary players, exciting rookies and veteran players elevating their game to earn their first All Star selection is further proof of how this league continues to ascend and prove that the league takes a backseat to no one as Coach Bill Laimbeer so aptly put it.

“The WNBA is second to none.”

                                                               Coach Bill Laimbeer

This game should only back up Coach Laimbeer’s sentiments. I’ve always enjoyed watching the All-Star game. I have many great memories of the game like when Lisa Leslie dunked in the 2005 game, watching UConn (though I'm a Vol) with four Huskies in the 2009 game: Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Charde Houston. One of the first of many similar scenarios for UConn grads. But my favorite memory is I believe it was the 2003 game where Nikki Teasley put on one of the greatest shows I’ve seen in a WNBA or NBA All-Star game. She won the MVP with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals as she led the West to the win. But it was some of her moves, crossovers and passes that made everyone’s jaw drop. Just mind boggling the way she maneuvered her body and that basketball. That was a performance reminiscent of Isaiah Thomas and Magic Johnson and the way they knew how to put on a show for the world in All Star games. And fyi for anyone who possesses those Teasley highlights, could you please post them on youtube. That’s too great of a memory to not be able to find them online. Teasley was a replacement that year for the legendary Cynthia Cooper who was injured and performed the way she did. So you never know who's going to step and step out to the forefront. So tune in this Saturday for more tremendous memories in this year’s All-Star game and see what player will give you lasting memories to cherish.

 

 

Nikki Teasley lit up the 03 All Star Game

 

AROUND THE LEAGUE

DIGGINS SITS/GOODRICH STARTS- While two of the ‘Three To See’ head to Connecticut for this weekend’s All-Star game, Skylar Diggins takes on a role that she probably hasn’t possibly ever had- as a reserve. An anke injury forced Skylar to miss time on the court and upon her return she finds herself playing behind third round pick Angel Goodrich. It’s interesting because they went head to head in the NCAA tournament in college in which Diggins clearly proved to be the premiere point guard as she had a phenomenal game with 27 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals. That’s against only 7 points by Goodrich but she did have 13 assists as her Jayhawks were beaten badly. It’s part of a tough rookie year for Diggins but she’s mentally tough and I really believe that in the long run this whole experience will only help her. In the meantime, it’s great to see Goodrich get an opportunity to show her mettle. Her first game starting she had 5 steals. It’s been an up and down journey for her starting but this experience is going to bode well for the Shock down the line as they should have two very strong point guards to lead to this team what I believe will be great accomplishments in the near future.

ALLISON HIGHTOWER IS BALLING- When things aren’t going well such as with the Connecticut Sun and the worst record in the league, most optimists will tell you to look on the bright side. Well to see the bright side with the Sun you merely have to look third year guard Allison Hightower. In a season that has seen Tina Charles struggle from the field and Renee Montgomery and Kara Lawson struggle to stay on the court, the lone bright spot for the franchise has been watching Allison Hightower continue to improve and become one of the most consistent guard threats in the league. Her All Star selection is well deserved. If the aforementioned players can be healthy and find their shooting touch in the second half of the season, the Sun may again make things interesting in the East as they follow their All Star guard Allison Hightower. 

Allison Hightower is shining for the Sun