Sparks’ Tina Thompson makes WNBA All-Star reserves

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Sparks forward Tina Thompson was named a reserve for the WNBA All-Star game Saturday, according to figures the league released today.

This marks Thompson’s eighth all-star appearance, a record shared by Sparks center Lisa Leslie. Leslie was the top vote-getter at center in this year’s All-Star game, but she remains unsure whether she’ll play because of a sprained right knee.

Thompson is second on the team, averaging 13 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Because those numbers are below her 18 points per game clip in her last three seasons, Thompson told The Times in a recent profile that she has ‘been consistently average, but I don’t consider myself an average player.’

The other Western Conference reserves include Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, Mercury guard/forward Cappie Pondexter, Minnesota Lynx center Nicky Anosike, Lynx forward Charde Houston and San Antonio Silver Stars forward Sophia Young.

The Eastern Conference reserves include Detroit Shock guard Katie Smith, Chicago Sky guard/forward Jia Perkins, Atlanta Dream forward/center Sancho Lyttle, New York Liberty forward Shameka Christon, Atlanta Dream forward/center Erika de Souza and Connecticut Sun forward Asjha Jones.

Coaches selected the reserves by voting for six players within their conference, including two guards, two forwards, one center and one player regardless of position. They weren’t allowed to vote for their own players.

-- Mark Medina