WNBA names All-Star team to face off against Team USA ahead of Tokyo Olympics
The WNBA released the rosters for the 2021 All-Star Game on Wednesday.
Team WNBA and the U.S. Women's National Team — the group set to head to Tokyo for the Olympics — will face off at 7 p.m. ET on July 14 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson, both former WNBA players and All-Decade Team honorees, will coach Team WNBA. As they will in Tokyo, the U.S. team will be led by three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley.
The 17th version of the WNBA's All-Star Game is part of the league's 25th anniversary celebrations, and will jointly serve as a sendoff for players heading to the Tokyo Olympics. During the game, the 1996 Olympic team will be honored with a special presentation for the impact it had on the formation of the league.
Members of the WNBA All-Star team were narrowed down by a voting process that included fans, current league players and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from across the country. The list of the top 36 players from that vote who weren't on the USA Basketball roster was given to WNBA head coaches, who narrowed down the roster to 12. Coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own team.
Candace Parker will be the veteran player for Team WNBA as a six-time All-Star selection and two-time league MVP. Dearica Hamby, Betnijah Laney and Satou Sabally are among seven players making their first All-Star appearance.
One notable exception from the Team WNBA roster is Nneka Ogwumike. The six-time All-Star, 2016 MVP and 2016 Olympian did not make the U.S. women's team cut, and though she did make the list of 36 in All-Star voting, she was ultimately not selected. Ogwumike is nursing a knee sprain but is expected to return in early July.
The USA Women's Team roster was announced on June 21.
Team WNBA roster:
Dewanna Bonner, Connecticut
Liz Cambage, Las Vegas
Kahleah Copper, Chicago
Dearica Hamby, Las Vegas
Brionna Jones, Connecticut
Jonquel Jones, Connecticut
Betnijah Laney, New York
Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas
Candace Parker, Chicago
Satou Sabally, Dallas
Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago
Courtney Williams, Atlanta
USA Women's National Team:
Ariel Atkins, Washington
Sue Bird, Seattle
Tina Charles, Washington
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota
Skylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix
Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas
Brittney Griner, Phoenix
Jewell Loyd, Seattle
Breanna Stewart, Seattle
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
Contact Emily Leiker at eleiker@usatoday.com or on Twitter @emleiker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA releases rosters for All-Star 2021, will honor Olympic team
