NEW YORK -- Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock and Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky lead their respective conferences in early returns for WNBA All-Star balloting Thursday.
Diggins, who is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL, has 11,099 votes. Delle Donne, who is leading the WNBA in scoring, has 10,589.
"It's great to know the fans are supporting me and are excited about what's happening this season," Delle Donne said. "Got to continue to get more fans watching and excited about the game. Got to keep getting more people voting."
Delle Donne has been voted a starter in the past two All-Star games, but hasn't been able to play in either because of injury. She's looking forward to trying to play
Joining Diggins as the top vote-getters among Western Conference backcourt players is Seimone Augustus of Minnesota. The West frontcourt leaders are Maya Moore of Minnesota, Brittney Griner of Phoenix and her teammate Candice Dupree. Griner missed the first seven games while serving a suspension for her domestic violence arrest.
In addition to Delle Donne, the top vote-getter among Eastern Conference guards is Atlanta's Shoni Schimmel, who was the MVP of last season's All-Star game.
Tamika Catchings of Indiana, Angel McCoughtry of Atlanta and Tina Charles of New York lead the frontcourt in the East. Chiney Ogwumike, who is out for the season recovering from microfracture surgery in her knee, is 10th in the voting.
"That's crazy," Ogwumike said. "I love it. That's just so cute. I'm honestly speechless. I have so much fun with all our fans and I'll be at All-Star supporting whatever is going on. It means a lot to me. My sisters fans, Team O fans, they are special."
The All-Star game is on July 25 in Connecticut with the starters announced on July 14. Reserves will be announced on July 21.
For the first time, fans were able this year to vote for any player on a WNBA roster.