WNBA: Storm’s Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ezi Magbegor headline All-Snub team

There are only 144 roster spots in the WNBA, which makes it an elite club. And the All-Star Game, with 24 spots, is the elite of the elite. It’s an honor to just be considered for participation. Here are five players who could make a valid case for appearing in this year’s game in Phoenix

Marina Mabrey (Chicago Sky)

Marina Mabrey is one of the best long-distance shooters in the WNBA. Last season was the best of her career, at least statistically, but she really shined in the EuroLeague, where she took ÇBK Mersin to the Final Four as the team’s primary playmaker. She averaged 17.5 points and 5.3 assists in Europe’s top competition, and was the main reason the Turkish team played so well. This season for the Chicago Sky, she’s shooting less, but she’s averaging career highs in rebounds (5.0) and assists (4.3) per game, proving she’s willing to do whatever it takes for the Sky to win. Yes, the All-Star Game is about individual stars, but athletes who sacrifice their individualism should also be rewarded for their efforts. And Mabrey is at the top of that list.

Skylar Diggins-Smith (Seattle Storm)

Ain’t nothing like momma’s cooking, and this mom is back from her second maternity leave to dish out some fine cuisine. Skylar Diggins-Smith’s 6.3 assists per game this season is her career high, and considering she has made the All-Star team six times in her career, that’s no small achievement. In her first season with the Seattle Storm, Diggins-Smith is running one of the best teams in the league, despite the team’s main stars playing with each other for the first time. She’s a proven veteran leader and—without a doubt—could hold her own against Team USA in Phoenix.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (New York Liberty)

After already making the case for another All-Star snub, the Connecticut Sun’s DiJonai Carrington, back when she still had a chance of making the team, similar arguments can be used when talking about Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Like Carrington, the New York Liberty forward is an elite defender. Unlike Carrington, she already has one All-Star appearance under her belt and has made the All-Defensive Team twice. Considering her past achievements, maybe the bar was higher for her? Maybe defense isn’t marketable? But, if you’re Team USA and preparing for the Olympics, don’t you want to face top defenders? Or, maybe Laney-Hamilton was overshadowed by the other three Liberty players—Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones—who we’ll see in Phoenix? The fact of the matter is, Laney-Hamilton is averaging 12.7 points, 4.5

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