Connecticut Sun forward Sandrine Gruda and Alba Torrens, whose WNBA rights are owned by the Sun, were named as starters for Europe in the EuroLeague All-Star game which will be played on Mar. 8 in Gydnia, Poland.

Gruda is averaging 14 points and 5.1 rebounds for UMMC Ekaterinburg while Torrens is averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists for Halcon Avenida.

Starters were selected based on fan balloting with Angel McCoughtry, Sylvia Fowles, Candice Dupree, Seimone Augustus and Monica Wright listed as the top vote-getters for the Rest of the World. I say "listed" because former UConn star Diana Taurasi was on the ballot and was the EuroLeague's leading scorer before getting released by Fenerbahce for tested positive for a banned substance. Taurasi, who has gone on the record as saying she never took the drug modafinil, is a fan favorite and it wouldn't shock me if she was the overall leader in fan ballots. Celine Dumerc, Sancho Lyttle and Amaya Valdemoro were the other starters for Europe. The rest of the rosters for the two teams will be announced later with former UConn star Tina Charles almost certain to be added to the Rest of the World squad.