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Sue Bird, Sabrina Ionescu, A'ja Wilson Headline 2022 WNBA All-Star Game Starters

Jun 22, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 08: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm during their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Storm 85-74. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 08: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm during their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Storm 85-74. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The WNBA announced the 10 starters for the 2022 All-Star Game in Chicago.

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird and Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson will co-captain one team, with Storm forward Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles on the other side.

Here's the full list of starters:

  • Sue Bird, Seattle Storm 
  • Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx 
  • Candace Parker, Chicago Sky 
  • Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks 
  • Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm 
  • A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces 
  • Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun 
  • Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty 
  • Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces 
  • Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Along with honoring Bird and Fowles, the WNBA will recognize Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner as an honorary All-Star starter. Griner remains wrongfully detained in Russia, with her time in custody extending to 125 days as of Wednesday.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert discussed Griner's inclusion:

"During each season of Brittney’s career in which there has been an All-Star Game, she has been selected as an All-Star. It is not difficult to imagine that if BG were here with us this season, she would once again be selected and would, no doubt, show off her incredible talents. So, it is only fitting that she be named as an honorary starter today and we continue to work on her safe return to the U.S."

As expected, the Aces are well represented. Las Vegas owns the WNBA's best record (13-3), sits second in net rating (10.1), per WNBA.com, and boasts at least two players who will likely finish near the top of the MVP balloting.

Wilson is arguably the MVP frontrunner. She's averaging 18.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, and she has expanded her offensive repertoire a bit. The 2020 MVP has knocked down 11 three-pointers after hitting just one across her first four seasons.

Jackie Young is a strong candidate in her own right, and Kelsey Plum might have a genuine shot at collecting the award if she didn't have so much competition from her teammates.

Young has emerged as a dynamic two-way player. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick is averaging 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals. Plum, meanwhile, is second in the league in scoring (20.2 points) and boasts a 58.3 percent true shooting rate, per Basketball Reference.

Purely on merit, Bird is the only questionable inclusion, but she was bound to be an All-Star starter in her final season. Many expected this would be it for the future Hall of Famer, and she confirmed on June 16 she's walking away at the end of the campaign.

The same goes for Fowles, who will eventually find herself among the game's greats in the Hall of Fame as well.

The 36-year-old, who announced her upcoming retirement in February, was averaging a double-double (16.5 points, 10.3 rebounds) and shooting 64.1 percent before suffering a knee injury that sidelined her indefinitely.

With the starters revealed, the coaches will now vote on the 12 reserves. The full All-Star draft pool will be unveiled on June 28, with the All-Star Game draft to come on July 2. The game itself is set for July 10 in Chicago.

Brittney Griner, Wife Cherelle to Speak After 'Error' Prevented Call, per White House

Jun 21, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury pulls down a rebound over Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Chicago Sky in the first half at Footprint Center on October 10, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mattina/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury pulls down a rebound over Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Chicago Sky in the first half at Footprint Center on October 10, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mattina/Getty Images)

A phone call between Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner, has been rescheduled after an attempt for the two to connect Saturday failed following a "logistical error," per Eric Tucker of the Associated Press.

The Griners have not spoken since Russian officials detained the WNBA star on Feb. 17 after claiming they discovered vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her baggage during a check at a Moscow airport. She has been detained for 124 days as of Tuesday.

State Department spokesman Ned Price admitted that a logistical error prevented the call from going through Saturday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday that the State Department is arranging a rescheduled call but did not reveal when that would take place.

Cherelle Griner told Tucker and colleague Doug Feinberg that Brittney Griner tried to call her 11 times through the United States embassy in Russia, but the desk where the phone was located did not have staffing.

"I find it unacceptable and I have zero trust in our government right now," Cherelle Griner said. "If I can’t trust you to catch a Saturday call outside of business hours, how can I trust you to actually be negotiating on my wife's behalf to come home? Because that's a much bigger ask than to catch a Saturday call."

Griner also said that the phone call "had been scheduled for almost two weeks—with a weekend date" that coincided with their wedding anniversary.

According to Price, there are staffing limitations because of Russian government restrictions on the embassy and its operations.

A senior State Department official said that the call was originally slated to funnel through the embassy's Marine Guard station but that it somehow got routed through an unstaffed, remote location.

The State Department said in May that Griner is being wrongfully detained. Per Russian state-run news agency Tass, officials extended Griner's detention until Saturday, July 2.

Sky to Face Aces in 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Finals for $500K Prize Pool

Jun 19, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 28: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball during the game against the Chicago Sky on May 28, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 28: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball during the game against the Chicago Sky on May 28, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Chicago Sky will play the Las Vegas Aces on July 26 in the second edition of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final.

The Connecticut Sun lost 71-63 to the Washington Mystics, which meant nobody from the Eastern Conference could catch the Chicago Sky after they won their first eight cup games. The Aces had already secured the Western Conference's cup final berth.

The Commissioner's Cup boasts tangible stakes for those involved. Members of the winning team can earn up to $30,000 per player, and those on the losing team can collect as much as $10,000 per player.

"I do love that there's extra incentive for the players," Aces head coach Becky Hammon told reporters. "Anytime the league can throw a little bit of extra cash the players' way, I'm all for it."

The league probably couldn't have asked for a much better matchup, either.

The Sky own the WNBA's third-best record (10-5) as they continue the defense of their 2021 title. Kahleah Copper, who reported to the team late because of overseas commitments, is averaging a team-high 13.7 points to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists. In what's potentially her last season, Candace Parker continues filling up the stat sheet as well. She's averaging 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest.

On the other side sit the Aces, who have been by far the strongest team of 2022. Las Vegas ranks first in net rating (12.2), per WNBA.com, and boasts a trio of potential MVP candidates in A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum.

Hammering the Sun by 22 points in the inaugural Commissioner's Cup final seemingly reaffirmed the Seattle Storm's credentials in 2021 but proved to be a mirage. Seattle slumped to the finish line before losing to the Phoenix Mercury in the second round.

Beating the Sky in this year's final won't guarantee the Aces are crowned champions in the fall, but a one-sided victory over Chicago will send a clear message to the rest of the league.

Boxing Legend, Russian Citizen Roy Jones Jr. Working to Bring Brittney Griner to USA

Jun 17, 2022
CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 03:  Roy Jones Junior Coach to Chris Eubank Jr. speaks during a press conference held at Cardiff City Hall to promote the forthcoming BOXXER fight night, on February 03, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 03: Roy Jones Junior Coach to Chris Eubank Jr. speaks during a press conference held at Cardiff City Hall to promote the forthcoming BOXXER fight night, on February 03, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Russia, said he has been working in an attempt to free Brittney Griner from a Russian prison.

"Would I put my life on the line, take a chance to go to Russia to exchange prisoners? Yes, I would," Jones told TMZ Sports (3:47 mark). "Why? Because if it was my daughter, I would want somebody to do the same thing for me."

Griner has been jailed on drug charges in Russia since February after authorities allegedly found hash oil in her luggage. She is facing up to 10 years in prison.

The United States has classified Griner as being "wrongfully detained."

"The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is among the highest priorities of the U.S government," the U.S. State Department (h/t ESPN's T.J. Quinn) said last month. "The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner. ... The U.S. government will continue to undertake efforts to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner."

The Russian government pushed Griner's trial back until at least July 2 last week. She will remain incarcerated until at least that date, barring some intervention that allows her to be freed.

Jones said he has spoken to a friend who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Griner's release. According to Jones, Russia would be amenable to a potential prisoner exchange.

"My friend called and he called me back and he said, 'Yes, they said they'd be willing to do a prisoner exchange.' I said, 'Well, it's probably rough because the prisoner exchange is probably a real prisoner.' She's not necessarily a person that's a real prisoner, but I'm sure that maybe the U.S. will be understanding of this and get her back home because I'd be terrified if my kid was stuck in a foreign country in jail, you know?"

Griner has played basketball in Russia since 2014 for UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Storm's Sue Bird Announces She Will Retire After 2022 WNBA Season

Jun 16, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 05: Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm looks on against the Connecticut Sun during the first quarter at Climate Pledge Arena on June 05, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 05: Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm looks on against the Connecticut Sun during the first quarter at Climate Pledge Arena on June 05, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

Legendary Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird announced Thursday that she will retire at the conclusion of the 2022 WNBA season.

Bird said she has "loved every single minute" of her career:

The 41-year-old is in her 21st WNBA season, all of which have been spent with the Storm.

Bird is one of the most decorated and successful players in the history of women's basketball across college, professional and international competition.

Before getting selected No. 1 overall by the Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft, she starred at UConn, where she was a two-time national champion and the 2002 Associated Press College Player of the Year.

The success carried over to the WNBA where Bird has become a 12-time All-Star, four-time champion and three-time assists leader. She was selected to the WNBA's 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th anniversary teams.

Bird is the WNBA's all-time leader in assists with 3,114 and games played with 559. She also ranks fourth in steals with 700 and seventh in scoring with 6,639 points.

In addition to the WNBA, Bird has played professionally in Russia for Dynamo Moscow, Spartak Moscow Region and UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Bird has won five titles in the Russian Premier League and five EuroLeague titles, along with two Europe SuperCup championships.

The native of Syosset, New York, has long been one of the faces of USA Basketball as well, winning four world championships and five consecutive Olympic gold medals from 2004 through 2020.

At last year's Summer Games in Tokyo, Bird was the female flag bearer for the United States during the opening ceremony.

The Storm are 9-5 this season, placing them second in the Western Conference. They'll try to send Bird into retirement as a five-time champion, which would break a tie with several others for the most by a player in WNBA history.

Brittney Griner's Pre-Trial Detention Extended Through July 2 by Russian Court

Jun 14, 2022
Brittney Griner durante un partido del Mercury de Phoenix contra el Chicago Sky el 13 de octubre del 2021 en Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Brittney Griner durante un partido del Mercury de Phoenix contra el Chicago Sky el 13 de octubre del 2021 en Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

WNBA star Brittney Griner's pre-trial detention in Russia has been extended once again through July 2.

According to Russian media outlet TASS (h/t Mark Osborne and Deena Zaru of ABC News), a Russian court extended the detention at "the request of the investigation."

Griner was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow in February for allegedly possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.

She has been detained for 117 days as of Tuesday, and last month the United States government classified Griner as being "wrongfully detained," per ESPN's T.J. Quinn.

Labeling Griner as wrongfully detained allowed the U.S. government to shift its focus in terms of attempting to take steps to bring Griner home as soon as possible rather than allowing the legal process to play out.

Quinn reported that former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who has years of international hostage negotiating experience, agreed to work on Griner's case.

Despite the U.S. government's shift in philosophy and reports of a potential prisoner swap with Russia, Griner remains in custody.

The 31-year-old was a collegiate star at Baylor who has played in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury since 2013. She also plays professionally in Russia, which is why she was in the country in February.

As a member of the Mercury, Griner is a seven-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and one-time WNBA champion.

Griner has also starred for the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.

Since the start of the 2022 WNBA season in May, every team in the league has placed a decal of Griner's initials and jersey number on their courts in a show of support.

Brittney Griner's Detention Subject of Meeting Between US State Dept., Mercury

Jun 13, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 8: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Las Vegas Aces during Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Semifinals on October 8, 2021 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 8: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Las Vegas Aces during Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Semifinals on October 8, 2021 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)

Representatives from the Phoenix Mercury met with U.S. State Department officials Monday to discuss Brittney Griner's ongoing wrongful detention in Russia.

Griner has been in custody for 116 days after being arrested at a Russian airport in February.

The Mercury said they also spoke with Rep. Greg Stanton and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee following their meeting with the state department.

"There is a lot involved in getting her back home and safe, they're working relentlessly," Mercury star Diana Taurasi said. "We're here to do whatever we can to amplify and keep BG at the forefront, which is more important than any basketball game and anything else that's going on in our lives. We want BG to come home as soon as possible, it's No. 1 on our list."

News of Griner's arrest first surfaced in March, several weeks after she was initially detained.

As the story was evolving, there were concerns about whether publicizing her arrest and advocating for her release would exacerbate her situation. ESPN's T.J. Quinn and Mechelle Voepel interviewed Tom Firestone, a lawyer and former legal adviser for the U.S. embassy in Moscow who explained the delicate balance at play:

Sometimes cases like this are better off handled in a low-key approach through the criminal justice system. I think the concern is, if it becomes too high-profile, if it becomes political, then the Russian government may dig into their position. It may make it difficult for her to get a good resolution of the case, and she could become a pawn in a bigger political battle.

With little in the way of progress, the public tenor is beginning to change.

In mid-March, a Moscow court ruled Griner would remain in custody until at least May 19. Then her detention was extended again until June 18. In between those developments, the State Department officially classified her as "wrongfully detained," meaning the U.S. would "no longer wait for Griner's case to play out through the Russian legal system and [would] seek to negotiate her return," per Quinn.

Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu 1st WNBA Player Ever to Record Triple-Double in 3 Quarters

Jun 12, 2022
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 5: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty looks on/ during the game against the Minnesota Lynx  on June 5, 2022 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 5: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty looks on/ during the game against the Minnesota Lynx on June 5, 2022 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)

New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu filled up the stat sheet in Sunday's 88-86 defeat to the Chicago Sky.

In addition to becoming the fourth player in WNBA history to record multiple triple-doubles, the third-year guard is the first player to post a triple-double through just three quarters.

https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1536083873532100608

She dropped 27 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in the loss.

Ionescu was the most hyped rookie since Breanna Stewart in 2016 when she entered the WNBA in 2020.

An ankle injury limited her to three games in her first season and continued to affect her into the 2021 season as well. As a result, the NCAA all-time leader in triple-doubles wasn't the dynamic presence she had been at Oregon.

Amid a seven-game losing streak that sent the Liberty to the bottom of the WNBA, though, Ionescu began to turn the corner.

Entering Sunday, she was averaging 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists. More importantly, her shooting has taken a big step forward. She shot 37.9 percent overall and 32.5 percent from beyond the arc in 2021, and those numbers are up to 46.1 and 36.7 percent, respectively, in 2022.

Ionescu's development could have significant ramifications for the Liberty.

New York made a run at Stewart in the offseason before the 2018 MVP re-signed with the Seattle Storm. Stewart will be a free agent again in 2023, and one would presume the Liberty will try their best once again to bring the Syracuse native closer to home.

With Ionescu looking like a true franchise cornerstone, the Liberty are bound to be more appealing to Stewart or any other marquee star on the market. That's quite the change from when New York was languishing to close out May.

Brittney Griner's Sister Shekera Says WNBA Star's Detention Has Been 'Gut-Wrenching'

Jun 10, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Chicago Sky during Game One of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 10, 2021 at Footprint in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Chicago Sky during Game One of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 10, 2021 at Footprint in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

Shekera Griner, the sister of WNBA star Brittney Griner, commented Friday on the detention of her sister in Russia.

Shekera called Brittney's detention "gut-wrenching," and called on United States President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the entire administration to "do whatever necessary" in order to bring Brittney home "safely and quickly."

Friday marks 113 days since Griner was first wrongfully detained by Russian authorities at an airport in Moscow for allegedly possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil.

Last month, the United States government changed its classification of Griner to "wrongfully detained," opening the door for the U.S. to negotiate Griner's return to the country rather than allowing the Russian legal system to play out.

It was also reported by ESPN's T.J. Quinn that U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson agreed to work on Griner's case after previously working for many years as an international hostage negotiator.

There have been reports regarding the United States considering a prisoner swap with Russia, but nothing has come to pass yet.

Former WNBA star and current University of South Carolina head women's basketball coach Dawn Staley tweeted Friday about bringing Griner home:

Griner, 31, is widely regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time due to her success collegiately, professionally and internationally.

The 6'9" center won a national championship and Player of the Year award at Baylor before playing for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA with whom she has been named an All-Star seven times to go along with two scoring titles, two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and one championship.

Griner also won gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics as part of Team USA.

Since the start of the 2022 WNBA season, teams have placed decals on their courts featuring Griner's initials and jersey numbers.