MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The WNBA today announced the early returns of 2015 WNBA All-Star Balloting presented by Boost Mobile. Lynx forward Maya Moore has received the third-most votes in the WNBA (7,783), ranking behind Tulsa’s Skylar Diggins (11,099) and Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne (10,589). Seimone Augustus (2nd, 5,518) and Lindsay Whalen (4th, 4,091) represent the Lynx among Western Conference guards, while Rebekkah Brunson (6th, 2,139) closes out the Lynx front court representatives.
Moore leads the Lynx this season with an average of 16.3 points per game. So far this season, she is averaging 6.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Augustus leads the WNBA in free-throw percentage (16-16) and ranks ninth in the league in scoring (15.4), while Whalen (13.4 ppg, 4.1 apg) ranks seventh in the league in assists. Brunson (11.2 ppg, 1.2 apg) ranks fourth in the league in rebounds (9.4).
Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015, featuring the Eastern Conference All-Stars against the Western Conference All-Stars at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., will be nationally televised by ABC on Saturday, July 25, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The 2015 Boost Mobile All-Star starters will be announced during an ESPN telecast of “SportsCenter” on Tuesday, July 14. Reserves will be announced on Tuesday, July 21, during ESPN2’s game telecast of the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks (tip-off at 11 p.m. ET). In the case of players who are unable to play due to injury – such as Diggins, who recently sustained a season-ending injury – replacement players will be named by WNBA President Laurel J. Richie. Any changes to the starting lineup necessitated by injury will be made by the head coach of the respective All-Star team.
Fans around the world can vote daily for their favorite WNBA players to become starters in the Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star Game 2015. Votes can be cast on multiple digital platforms, including WNBA.com, the WNBA App, Twitter and Facebook.
On WNBA.com, the program is highly integrated, with voting options available on the player index and player file pages, in addition to prominent branding of the campaign throughout the site as well as on all 12 individual WNBA team sites.
Also this year, Twitter and Facebook voting has been expanded to 10 unique player votes per day (previously one per day). Fans may cast votes on Facebook and Twitter using the designated hashtag #wnbaballot and the player’s first and last name, or Twitter handle (Twitter only). Fans can also add a team-specific hashtag to Twitter votes to show team spirit. Voters can submit one player name per post and create up to 10 valid posts – each for a different WNBA player – per Twitter or Facebook account per day.
As an incentive for fans to vote on Twitter, the WNBA is offering a Twitter sweepstakes with a chance to win prizes such as WNBAStore.com gift cards and Boost Mobile smartphones. Follow @WNBA on Twitter for more information.
Individual tickets for Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015 start at just $16 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by dialing 800-745-3000 or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
The entire early returns are as follows:
EASTERN CONFERENCE — EARLY RETURNS LEADERS
Backcourt: Elena Delle Donne (Chi) 10,589; Shoni Schimmel (Atl) 4,419; Cappie Pondexter (Chi) 2,862; Courtney Vandersloot (Chi) 2,301; Ivory Latta (Was) 2,222; Alex Bentley (Con) 1,896; Marissa Coleman (Ind) 1,404; Allie Quigley (Chi) 1,326; Briann January (Ind) 1,289; Brittany Boyd (NY) 1,191; Kara Lawson (Was) 1,162; Tiffany Hayes (Atl) 1,118
Frontcourt: Tamika Catchings (Ind) 5,558; Angel McCoughtry (Atl) 4,225; Tina Charles (NY) 3,359; Emma Meesseman (Was) 2,612; Natalie Achonwa (Ind) 1,948; Stefanie Dolson (Was) 1,727; Erika de Souza (Atl) 1,530; Swin Cash (NY) 1,402; Kelsey Bone (Con) 1,277; Chiney Ogwumike (Con) 1,189; Kiah Stokes (NY) 1,142; Alyssa Thomas (Con) 1,124
WESTERN CONFERENCE — EARLY RETURNS LEADERS
Guards: Skylar Diggins (Tul) 11,099; Seimone Augustus (Min) 5,518; Sue Bird (Sea) 4,693; Lindsay Whalen (Min) 4,091; DeWanna Bonner (Phx) 3,438; Kayla McBride (SA) 1,994; Odyssey Sims (Tul) 1,891; Jewell Loyd (Sea) 1,622
Frontcourt: Maya Moore (Min) 7,783; Brittney Griner (Phx) 3,656; Candice Dupree (Phx) 3,410; Ramu Tokashiki (Sea) 2,378; Nneka Ogwumike (LA) 2,337; Rebekkah Brunson (Min) 2,139; Courtney Paris (Tul) 1,508; Plenette Pierson (Tul) 1,190; Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Sea) 1,152