Two Dream players are named WNBA All-Star game reserves

The Atlanta Dream's Cheyenne Parker is scoring over 15 points per game. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

The Atlanta Dream's Cheyenne Parker is scoring over 15 points per game. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

Dream teammates Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker were selected as WNBA All-Star reserves by the league’s coaches Saturday.

Gray and Parker will be making their first appearances in the game.

Gray is averaging 18.3 points per game while Parker contributes 15.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Dream (6-8).

The Dream’s Rhyne Howard, who was named rookie of the year last season and is averaging 16.4 points per game this season, was not picked for the All-Star game.

Dream guard Allisha Gray attempts a free throw in a June game. Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Credit: Miguel Martinez

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Credit: Miguel Martinez

WNBA career triple-double leader Alyssa Thomas of Connecticut was also picked as a reserve. Thomas, who will be making her fourth all-star appearance, is the first player with three triple-doubles in a season. She accomplished it in the span of seven days, including two in back-to-back games. She’s joined by Sun teammate DeWanna Bonner, who is making her fifth All-Star appearance.

Other reserves chosen were Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell and Seattle’s Ezi Magbegor, Washington’s Elena Delle Donne, Las Vegas’ Kelsey Plum, New York’s Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot, Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier and Chicago’s Kahleah Copper.

They’ll have to wait a week to find out which team they’ll be playing on for the All-Star game in Las Vegas on July 15, when team captains A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart will draft them.

Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon will guide Wilson’s team, and Connecticut coach Stephanie White will help Stewart’s squad.

Delle Donne was a two-time captain and expects to make her seventh All-Star appearance, but the first since 2019 after dealing with injuries and illnesses the past few seasons. She was happy for the chance to potentially play with former USA Basketball teammate Brittney Griner, who was chosen a starter last week.

“An All-Star game without BG wouldn’t be right,” Delle Donne said. “I love being around her. When we played Phoenix a few weeks ago, just to see her and to see her smile was great. Hopefully, I end up on her team.”

Plum became the fourth member of the Las Vegas Aces to make the All-Star team, joining Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. Plum scored 30 points in last year's game and earned MVP honors.

New York's starting backcourt of Ionescu and Vandersloot give the Liberty three players in the game, joining Stewart. It's Ionescu's second appearance, while Vandersloot will make her fifth.

Collier is having a career year for the Lynx, scoring 22.4 points a game — more than six points above her previous career best. Copper, who earned 2021 WNBA Finals MVP honors, will play in her third All-Star game.

Other All-Star starters announced last week were Los Angeles' Nneka Ogwumike, Dallas teammates Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally, Indiana's Aliyah Boston and Seattle's Jewell Loyd.

All 12 teams in the league will have at least one representative in the game for the first time since 2015.