Shoni Schimmel's inarguable talent on the court paired with a little persistence on Twitter has landed the Dream rookie point guard a starting spot on the WNBA Eastern Conference All-Star lineup.
Schimmel collected 25,601 votes, third in the league only to Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore, of Collins Hill High in Gwinnett County, and Chicago Sky forward Elena Delle Donne.
This is the first year the league added the option to vote via social media. Votes could be cast by using the hashtag #WNBABALLOT and the athlete’s name on Twitter and Facebook.
“It’s pretty awesome, especially as a rookie, to be able to go out there and have some fun with all the vets,” Schimmel said.
Dream teammate and fellow Louisville alumnae Angel McCoughtry will join Schimmel and the Eastern Conference’s three other starters in Phoenix for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 19 (3:30 p.m., ESPN). McCoughtry leads the Dream in points and has appeared in two All-Star games as a starter after the club drafted her first overall in 2009.
The Eastern Conference All-Star team will be coached by Michael Cooper, who has the Dream atop the Eastern standings.
Schimmel says she will eagerly anticipate sharing the opportunity with both familiar faces and veterans she has watched play. “You play with some of them (her Dream teammates) and then you have the opportunity to sit there and play with other greats,” she said. “To sit there and mesh that all together, it’s going to be a lot of fun, especially with ‘Coop’ coaching.”
Cappi Pondexter (New York Liberty), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and Delle Donne round out the East’s starting roster. Delle Donne has been sidelined recently by Lyme disease and her availability for the game is questionable.
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Skylar Diggins (Tulsa Shock), Moore, Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) and Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury) fill out the West’s starting lineup.
