The WNBA announced its 2011 All-Star starters last week and today they have announced their reserves, listed as follows:
| Eastern Conference | MEV | PER | +/- | Western Conference | MEV | PER | +/- |
| Essence Carson |
12.31 | 23.24 | -3.9 | Penny Taylor | 21.66* | 25.98 | +16.9 |
| Crystal Langhorne |
15.21 | 19.93 | +3.1 | Danielle Adams | 12.92 | 25.86 | +19.0 |
| Sylvia Fowles |
19.41** | 25.61** | +0.4 | Rebekkah Brunson |
16.37 | 21.86 | +15.2 |
| Renee Montgomery | 14.39 | 19.62 | +4.3 | Becky Hammon | 16.35 | 19.36 | +23.7* |
| Epiphanny Prince |
15.25 | 19.01 | -2.0 | Lindsay Whalen | 17.73 | 22.06 | +10.2 |
| Courtney Vandersloot |
9.40 | 11.63 | 3.7 | Seimone Augustus | 12.29 | 18.44 | -1.2 |
* = Best in league
** = Best in conference
So who were the biggest snubs?
Eastern Conference Selections
Sylvia Fowles was a lock at center, Langhorne has been a top 10 player in the East this season, Carson's improved shooting to go along with her defense makes her a strong candidate. At guard, Montgomery and Prince make sense.
But Courtney Vandersloot could be the subject of some debate in the Eastern Conference selections, but the argument for adding her is simple: there isn't much question that she's among the top two point guards in the conference and if you believe that point guards deserve unique consideration for one of the guard spots, then she was a lock.
If Vandersloot is considered as the player occupying that sixth "wild card" spot that coaches were allowed, there were certainly players ahead of her that could've been in that spot (of those not selected):
| EC Players |
MEV | PER | +/- |
| Kia Vaughn | 13.05 | 17.77 | -2.1 |
| Jessica Davenport |
11.61 | 23.25 | +14.9 |
| Erika de Souza |
11.52 | 16.42 | -6.7 |
| Kara Lawson | 11.46 | 16.28 | +1.0 |
| Plenette Pierson | 11.46 | 19.01 | +2.2 |
| Nicky Anosike | 11.09 | 15.48 | +13.0 |
| Matee Ajavon | 10.96 | 16.61 | +9.8 |
| Asjha Jones | 10.58 | 16.00 | +6.0 |
| Michelle Snow |
10.50 | 13.66 | +6.9 |
| Angel McCoughtry |
9.77 | 17.93 | -7.1 |
| Courtney Vandersloot |
9.40 | 11.63 |
+3.7 |
This list is not to say that Vandersloot should not have made the team - more than anything it's more proof that what a point guard does for a team is not easily quantified. And perhaps that McCoughtry's selection as a starter at forward is a bit more questionable.
Western Conference Selections:
The most obvious snub in this whole list is Candice Dupree.
Adams and Augustus are certainly having strong seasons, but Dupree is quietly having a MVP-caliber season.
The other player who had a pretty strong case to make it is Sophia Young.
The president's replacement pick for the injured Candace Parker almost certainly has to be Dupree though, who is playing far too well not to be in the game. The following is the list of non All-Star starters that were available in the Western Conference.
| WC Players |
MEV | PER | +/- |
| Penny Taylor | 21.66 | 25.98 | +16.9 |
| Lindsay Whalen |
17.73 | 22.06 | +10.2 |
| Candice Dupree |
17.35 | 21.67 | +17.1 |
| Rebekkah Brunson |
16.37 | 21.86 | +15.2 |
| Becky Hammon | 16.35 | 19.36 | +23.7 |
| Sophia Young | 15.90 | 20.46 | +14.7 |
| Kristi Toliver |
13.10 | 20.79 | +4.2 |
| Danielle Adams | 12.92 | 25.86 | +19.0 |
| Maya Moore |
12.64 | 18.19 | +17.2 |
| Seimone Augustus |
12.29 | 18.44 | -1.2 |
| Kayla Pedersen |
11.86 | 14.43 | +11.8 |
Statistics are not everything in deciding these matters. But there are probably at least two players who have a legitimate gripe about being left out of this game on this end.
Related Links:
Dishin & Swishin with Asjha Jones: Add her to that list!
2011 WNBA All-Star Reserves: Gonzaga's Courtney Vandersloot Selected As Eastern Conference Reserve
2011 WNBA All-Star Starters Announced: Who Are The Top Candidates For Reserves?