Shoni Schimmel tops WNBA in jersey sales

Fans of former University of Louisville superstar Shoni Schimmel have wanted to play basketball like her for years. Evidently they want to dress like her, too.

Schimmel's No. 23 Atlanta Dream jersey is the top seller among all players in the WNBA this season, the league announced.

Schimmel, a rookie guard who has achieved immense popularity because of her success as a Native American athlete, leads Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock, Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky and Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx on the jersey sales list.

Schimmel's popularity has also helped the Dream lead the league in team merchandise sales for the first time.

Schimmel and Atlanta teammate/former U of L All-American Angel McCoughtry will be Eastern Conference starters in Saturday's WNBA All-Star game in Phoenix (3:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN). Schimmel received the third-most All-Star votes in the league, behind only Moore and Delle Donne.

Schimmel will start the All-Star game even though she's started only twice for the East-leading Dream (15-5). She is averaging 7.6 points and 3.6 assists this season.

Schimmel is one of four rookies in the top 10 of the jersey sales list, along with No. 8 Stefanie Dolson and No.10 Bria Hartley of the Washington Mystics and No. 9 Kayla McBride of the San Antonio Stars.

MOST POPULAR WNBA JERSEYS

1. Shoni Schimmel, Atlanta Dream

2. Skylar Diggins, Tulsa Shock

3. Elena Delle Donne, Chicago Sky

4. Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

5. Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks

6. Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

7. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury

8. Stefanie Dolson, Washington Mystics

9. Kayla McBride, San Antonio Stars

10. Bria Hartley, Washington Mystics