Several big names missing from squads

When the WNBA on Monday announced the reserves for its All-Star game, who wasn’t on the list was as newsworthy as who was selected by the coaches.

Fans voted for the starters and coaches – unable to vote for their own players – selected six reserves for Sunday’s All-Star game at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

With the WNBA talent pool deeper than ever, arguments could be made for several players who were not selected:

•Sophia Young, an All-Star last year with better numbers this season (14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds) playing for West-leading San Antonio, missed the cut.

•Kara Lawson of the Sacramento Monarchs, the league’s most prolific reserve (11.3 points), was left out again.

•Detroit’s Katie Smith (13.4 points, 4.2 assists), an Olympic gold medalist and six-time All-Star, did not make it.

•No one from the league’s largest market, New York, will play in the game though an argument could be made for the Liberty’s Loree Moore (10.0 points, 4.9 assists and 2.5 steals) or Cathrine Kraayeveld (11.3 points, 5.4 rebounds).

Young and Lawson still have a chance to participate in the game. WNBA President Donna Orender is expected to name a player today to replace Seattle point guard Sue Bird, the leading vote-getter who had knee surgery last week and will not play.