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2013 WNBA All-Star starters announced: Rookie Elena Delle Donne the top vote-getter overall

The WNBA has announced its 2013 All Star game starters with rookie Elena Delle Donne leading all players in the fan voting process.

Chicago Sky rookie Elena Delle Donne and Atlanta Dream star Angel McCoughtry will both start for the Eastern Conference.
Chicago Sky rookie Elena Delle Donne and Atlanta Dream star Angel McCoughtry will both start for the Eastern Conference.
USA TODAY Sports

The WNBA announced its 2013 WNBA All-Star starters during tonight's game between the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks with

As already discussed elsewhere, fans voted for two guards and three frontcourt players to remove the limitations of traditional positions.

Results

Position East West
G Cappie Pondexter Diana Taurasi
G Epiphanny Prince Seimone Augustus
F Elena Delle Donne Candace Parker
F Tamika Catchings Maya Moore
F Angel McCoughtry Brittney Griner

The reserves will be announced next week, but for now let's take a closer look at the starters.

Eastern Conference

So obviously a couple folks around here have wanted Ivory Latta to be selected as the starter and, regardless of whether you think there should be special consideration for points guards or you just look at their individual statistics, she probably has a stronger argument for the spot than Cappie Pondexter. Either way, both belong in the game and it's hard to imagine Latta being left out as a reserve.

Elena Delle Donne's position as top vote-getter in the All-Star game also reflects how strong a candidate she is for 2013 Rookie of the Year. One of the more impressive things about her as a rookie is that she has a top 15 usage rate (24.6%) and yet has still managed to remain a very efficient scorer (56% true shooting percentage).

Western Conference

Similar to the Eastern Conference results, the only real debate is at the guard spot with Seimone Augustus getting the nod over point guards Lindsey Harding, Danielle Robinson, or Lindsay Whalen all of whom have put up solid numbers this season. With players like Kristi Toliver also putting up solid numbers at the guard spot this season there's a chance that a deserving player could be left out of this year's game.

Star rookie Brittney Griner also deserves a mention here: despite the fact that she might not have lived up to the very lofty hype that followed her from college, she has put together a very strong rookie season and isn't on this team merely due to hype. When healthy, she has anchored the Phoenix Mercury's defense and her 63.7% true shooting percentage is currently 9th in the league, making her the second-most efficient scorer on the interior in the league.

Who are the reserves?

The reserves will be released next week, but in the meantime who are your top choices? Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below or write up a fan post with your breakdown of the starters with thoughts on whether you agree or disagree. Did this new voting format make a difference? Do you see potential for a major snub?

For more on the All Star game, check out our 2013 WNBA All-Star game section.