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2012 WNBA Western Conference Training Camp Rosters By Player Style

Former Rutgers guard Khadijah Rushdan will be one of a few Los Angeles Sparks perimeter players competing to show that they can help the team make up for its lack of a true distributor. <em>Photo by David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE</em>
Former Rutgers guard Khadijah Rushdan will be one of a few Los Angeles Sparks perimeter players competing to show that they can help the team make up for its lack of a true distributor. Photo by David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

WNBA training camps open today and after a brief overview of the Eastern Conference rosters yesterday, today we do the same with the Western Conference rosters.

The same caveats that applied to yesterday's post apply here, though I might add a brief note about some of the things that stand out as anomalies, with Penny Taylor being particularly interesting here.

Most people wouldn't consider Taylor a "distributor", choosing instead to reserve that label for point guards. However what's interesting about Taylor is that she created assists at a higher rate than many players who filled the "point guard" slot and was by far one of the most efficient distributors in the league. She's a big loss, but without a proven point guard on the team her ability to facilitate scoring opportunities for others will be as big a loss as anything else.

At the other end of the distributor spectrum, it's interesting that the L.A. Sparks are currently without anyone who classified as a distributor last season (and Sharnee' Zoll didn't exactly qualify in her last season of play either, albeit in limited minutes). But what's interesting is that despite their lack of an experienced WNBA distributor, they have a number of versatile players who are capable of distributing the ball. The challenge for them this season will be whether they can overcome their lack of a true distributor (as the roster stands now) with their versatile set of players. That also obviously has major implications for clearing up what is a clear log jam on the perimeter - any of those rookies has an opportunity to make the roster if they prove they can fill that distributor spot.

Western Conference Rosters

Players in alphabetical order organized by player styles. Player names linked to WNBA.com profiles.

Update on May 16: strikethrough = cut, italics = last cut, *** = player absent for Olympics.

Rookies eligible for the 2012 WNBA Draft are indicated with an asterisk.

Los Angeles Sparks

Distributor Perimeter Interior Mixed/Utility
Sharnee' Zoll Alana Beard Nicky Anosike Marissa Coleman

Darxia Morris Ebony Hoffman DeLisha Milton-Jones
Khadijah Rushdan *
Jantel Lavender Jenna O'Hea ***
Ashley Shields Nneka Ogwumike *
Candace Parker
April Sykes *

Kristi Toliver
Tyra White *



*** O'Hea is taking this season off for the Olympics.

Minnesota Lynx

Distributor Perimeter Interior Mixed/Utility
Nika Baric *
Seimone Augustus Jessica Adair Taj McWilliams-Franklin
Erin Thorn Queralt Casas *
Rebekkah Brunson Devereaux Peters *
Lindsay Whalen Tavelyn James * Amber Harris Julie Wojta *
Maya Moore Jasmine Lee *
Porsche Poole *
Kayla Standish *
Brittany Rayburn *

Candice Wiggins

Monica Wright





Phoenix Mercury

Distributor Perimeter Interior Mixed/Utility
Alexis Gray-Lawson C'eira Ricketts *
DeWanna Bonner Alexis Hornbuckle
Samantha Prahalis *
Andrea Riley
Candice Dupree Amanda Johnson *
Penny Taylor ** Dymond Simon Christine Flores *
Chastity Reed
Diana Taurasi Charde Houston
Brittney Thomas Nakia Sanford
Zane Tamane

Krystal Thomas
Avery Warley

** Taylor is injured and will miss the 2012 season.

San Antonio Silver Stars

Distributor Perimeter Interior Mixed/Utility
Tully Bevilaqua Shameka Christon Danielle Adams Tangela Smith
Becky Hammon Shenise Johnson *
Jayne Appel Sophia Young
Loree Moore Kalisha Keane Cierra Bravard *

Danielle Robinson Jia Perkins Ify Ibekwe
Ziomara Morrison
Porsha Phillips
Latoya Williams

Seattle Storm

Distributor Perimeter Interior Mixed/Utility
Sue Bird Ashley Corral *
Rachel Allison Camille Little
Silvia Dominguez ***
Dellena Criner Alysha Clark Allie Quigley
Victoria Dunlap Ashley Gayle *
Tina Thompson
Katie Smith Lauren Jackson
Shekinna Stricklen *
Ewelina Kobryn
Tanisha Wright Lindsay Taylor
Jacqua Williams Ann Wauters

*** The Storm have placed Silvia Dominguez on the suspended list.


Tulsa Shock

Distributor Perimeter Interior Mixed/Utility
Temeka Johnson Shanna Crossley Vicki Baugh *
Karima Christmas

Lorin Dixon Chante Black
Marshae Dotson
Amber Holt Elizabeth Cambage ***
Jennifer Lacy
Ivory Latta Tiffany Jackson ***
Kayla Pedersen
Jene Morris Glory Johnson *


Scholanda Robinson Lynetta Kizer *


Riquna Williams *
Chanel Mokango **

** Mokango is injured and out for the season despite being signed by Tulsa.

*** Cambage is out at least until the Olympic break, Jackson will miss this season due to pregnancy.

What are your initial thoughts on each team's roster? Which teams do you think will have the most difficult decisions to make?

Leave your thoughts in the comments.