UConn In The WNBA: Collier Places 9th In Initial All Star Voting

The WNBA announced the top 30 vote getters for the All Star game after the initial wave of fan votes. Ultimately, the fan vote will be 50 percent of what determines this year’s WNBA All Stars.

Napheesa Collier placed ninth in the vote total with 10,543 votes. Collier is the only rookie in the top 30 and the highest vote receiver of all the former Huskies in the league.

Tina Charles (8,541), Diana Taurasi (6,762) and Kia Nurse (6,467) also rank in the top 30 vote getters. Taurasi, who missed her initial expected return date from injury but is expected to play this weekend, garnered her vote count without playing a single minute so far this season.

Kia Nurse Having a Breakout ‘Sophomore’ Season

As the New York Liberty slowly climb in the WNBA standings, currently sitting in 9th place and just one win below .500, Kia Nurse is having a fantastic start to her second season in the league. The former Husky has started all 12 games for the Liberty this season. Nurse is averaging 15.3 points and 2.3 assists per game, both of which are well above her rookie season numbers.

Sue Bird/Megan Rapinoe - World Cup Power Couple

I’m writing this week’s column from France, so naturally I needed to find a way to fit the Women’s World Cup in here. While rehabbing from her knee injury, which has sidelined her so far this season, Sue Bird wrote another piece for the Player’s Tribune - this time on girlfriend Megan Rapinoe and the United States National Team.

With the US headed to the World Cup finals, what a year it has been for these two. By the end of the weekend they will have combined for a WNBA championship, NWSL semifinals appearance, FIBA World Cup Gold and (probably) a FIFA World Cup in the last 12 months.