MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx have formed a group of Jr. All-Stars made up of female youths from community organizations across the Twin Cities that will get exclusive All-Star experiences throughout the weekend.
Each child will be assigned to either Team Delle Donne or Team Parker. They will get the chance to meet their honorary teammates, watch practice courtside, participate in the media circuit at the All-Star Practice presented by Rasmussen College and attend the Verizon WNBA All-Star Game 2018 on Saturday.
Team Delle Donne
- Arielle: Arielle comes to the team from MN Adopt, an organization that helps families create permanent placement for children in Minnesota. She enjoys sports, especially basketball and football. She was recently on the honor roll and her favorite subject is science.
- Linae: Linae comes to the team from HopeKids, which provides events and activities for families with cancer or other life-threatening conditions. She lives with mitochondrial disease and food allergies. She is a spunky creative spirit who wants to be an author.
- Olivia: Olivia comes to the team from Minneapolis Urban League, who advocates for equity, justice and power for African descendants. She is the oldest of four kids and is a fun-loving, athletic girl that enjoys basketball, swimming and choir.
- Grace: Grace comes to the team from United Heroes League, which empowers military families to stay healthy and active. Her dad is a member of the Minnesota Air National guard, deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2012 and currently is assigned to the 133rd Air Lift Wing at Fort Snelling.
- Ellana: Ellana comes to the team from American Cancer Society, whose mission is to free the world of cancer. She is in her 7th year of raising money for ACS and placed 1st last year for the most money raised for her community, Relay for Life, for the 5th consecutive year, making the grand total for raising nearly $65,000.
Team Parker
- Maria: Maria comes to the team also from MN ADOPT. She has a great sense of humor, loves to be active and spends time playing cards, reading and drawing.
- Mackenzie: Mackenzie comes to the team from Courage Kenny, which provides rehabilitation services for people with short- and long-term conditions, injuries and disabilities. She was born with Spina Bifida but has never let it stop her. She is involved in wheelchair basketball and travels with the Rolling Rowdies team.
- Laquita: Laquita comes to the team from Girls, Inc. at YWCA, which inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold. She is the youngest of five siblings, has a bubbly personality and loves to play basketball.
- Morgan: Morgan comes to the team from St. Paul Jewish Community Center, which provides a place for the community to come together for Jewish culture, recreation and socializing. She is an active member at SP JCC and participates in a variety of activities such as musicals, summer programs and her favorite, Youth Basketball League.
- Tess: Tess comes to the team also from HopeKids. She was born with a congenital heart defect called Truncus Arteriosus, which required heart surgery at five weeks old. She has had four total open-heart surgeries. Due to medical condition she is not able to play basketball competitively but loves the game.