Bird to make ninth All-Star appearance, Pierson her first

NEW YORK (AP) – Seattle’s Sue Bird will be playing in her ninth WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday as a Western Conference reserve.

The league announced the rosters on Tuesday night.

Bird will be joined by Tulsa’s Plenette Pierson, who will be playing in her first All-Star contest. The veteran is one of seven players competing in their first All-Star Game. DeWanna Bonner of Phoenix, Alex Bentley and Kelsey Bone of Connecticut, Marissa Coleman of Indiana and Stefanie Dolson and Emma Meesseman of Washington also will be making their debuts.

Other reserves include Chicago’s Cappie Pondexter, Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike, San Antonio’s Danielle Robinson and Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen.

WNBA President Laurel J. Richie will have to replace starters Skylar Diggins and Seimone Augustus, who are injured.