Emma Meesseman and Stefanie Dolson named 2015 WNBA All-Stars

On Tuesday, the WNBA announced its reserves for the 2015 WNBA All-Star Game. The Mystics' starting post duo of Emma Meesseman and Stefanie Dolson were selected to participate.

Meesseman is averaging 13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game in the 2015 season. In addition, she is making 54.5 percent of her shots from the field and made 87.2 percent of her free throws. If the WNBA had a formal fantasy league, she'd easily be one of the top ten players picked given these types of numbers.

Unlike most WNBA All-Stars who are lottery picks, Meessseman was the 19th overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft and has been a make-up gift of sorts for the Mystics for two main reasons. First, they couldn't pick up one of the first three picks in the 2013 draft, all of whom were voted in as starters this season AND have earned All-WNBA first team honors once in their young careers. Second, Tayler Hill, the player who the Mystics selected with the fourth pick in that draft hasn't had a chance to shine just yet since she has been a reserve guard below multiple veterans her entire career.

Dolson averages 13.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game. She has started all but one game this season in place of Kia Vaughn who is recovering from a concussion. One thing that concerned me last year about Dolson despite her solid production was her foul rate, which was 5.2 fouls per 36 minutes played. This season, it has dropped to 4.0. Still a bit high, but better nevertheless. Dolson was the Mystics' first round pick (6th overall) in 2014.

The selections of Meesseman and Dolson in the All-Star Game are the start of something promising for the Mystics in the Mike Thibault Era. During his time in Washington, the only players who have been selected for the All-Star game were veteran free acquisitions like point guard Ivory Latta, who wasn't selected this season, and then veteran-holdover Crystal Langhorne, who now plays for the Seattle Storm. Now, we're seeing the players Thibault drafted in D.C. get into the All-Star game via coaches' votes. I'll hedge my bets and say that there are more future All-Stars on the Mystics' roster right now.

The 2015 WNBA All-Star Game will be this Saturday, July 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Congratulations to Meesseman and Dolson for earning a well-deserved All-Star selection this season.