The WNBA announced today that Washington Mystics players Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver have been named to the 2018 All-Star game presented by Verizon. This year’s game will be held in Minneapolis, MN on July 28 at 3:30 pm. The last time the Mystics had two players in the All-Star game was 2015 (Stefanie Dolson and Emma Meesseman).
“I am looking forward to competing in this year’s All-Star game,” said Delle Donne. “I am humbled by the support of the fans and I look forward to representing the Mystics in Minneapolis”
This is the fifth All-Star recognition for Delle Donne who will serve as one of the All-Star team captains. Entering her sixth WNBA season, Delle Donne is averaging 20.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, a career-best 2.3 assists per game and 1.3 blocks per game. Delle Donne who has thus far earned three Player of the Week honors, was named the league’s Player of the Month for June. She also recently scored her 3000th career point earlier this week, a feat accomplished faster than any player in WNBA history (148 games).
“It feels so good to be back on this stage with the league’s best players,” said Toliver. “I set out this off-season to get myself back to this level and knowing my discipline and work ethic paid off is very special to me.”
A 10-year WNBA veteran, it is the second All-Star nod of Toliver’s career. She has started every game this season for the Mystics and is averaging 14.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Toliver is playing a career-high 32.9 minutes per game and shooting a career-best 91.7% from the free-throw line.
On June 13, against the Connecticut Sun, Delle Donne (22) and Toliver (20) combined for 42 points in the first half, the most combined points by a pair of teammates in the first half in the league history. It was just the eighth time in league history that a pair of teammates combined for 40 or more points in any half of regular season game.