Sparks’ center Lisa Leslie to miss WNBA All-Star game

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Sparks’ center Lisa Leslie will miss the WNBA All-Star game on Saturday because of a sprained right knee that has kept her sidelined for the last seven games, the league announced today.

Sacramento Monarchs forward Nicole Powell was selected by WNBA President Donna Orender as Leslie’s replacement. Western Conference Coach Dan Hughes of the San Antonio Silver Stars will decide who will fill Leslie’s vacated starting position spot.

Since the WNBA starters were named last week, Leslie maintained her uncertainty whether she would make her eighth All-Star appearance. She’s didn’t travel with the team in tonight’s game against Seattle and is still listed as day-to-day. She was cleared to run by doctors on Friday but has abstained from contact drills and isn’t cleared to travel.

This would’ve been Leslie’s last All-Star appearance with the league’s all-time leading scorer and three-time MVP retiring after this season.

-- Mark Medina