Seattle Storm’s Dan Hughes and Phoenix Mercury’s Sandy Brondello named head coaches for the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game

Seattle Storm head coach Dan Hughes and Phoenix Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello are the coaches for the 2018 All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.  Under this year’s All-Star format, the two head coaches whose teams have the best records through games on Friday, July 13 will lead the All-Star teams.

The 15th WNBA All-Star Game takes place on Saturday, July 28 at Target Center in Minneapolis at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT. ABC will televise the game.

Currently, Seattle (15-6, .714) has the best record in the league so Hughes will coach the All-Star team captained by the highest vote-getter. Phoenix (14-7, .667) is second after the Los Angeles Sparks’ 92-77 loss to the Dallas Wings earlier today. Consequently, Brondello will guide the All-Star team captained by the second-highest vote-getter.

A group of 22 All-Stars will be selected without regard for conference affiliation through voting by fans, current WNBA players and head coaches, and selected media. The two All-Stars who receive the most votes will serve as team captains. They will draft their rosters from the remaining pool of 20 All-Stars.

This year will mark the second time Hughes will coach in the All-Star Game. When he was the head coach of the San Antonio Stars, he led the Western Conference past the Eastern Conference 130-118 in the 2009 All-Star Game in Connecticut.