WNBA Women's National Basketball Association

2007 WNBA All-Star Balloting Tips Off

May 22, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release


NEW YORK, NY, May 22, 2007 -- The WNBA All-Star Balloting Program presented by AOL and T-Mobile begins today to determine the starting players for the 2007 WNBA All-Star Game. The league's premier event will be hosted by the Washington Mystics on Sunday, July 15 and will be televised nationally on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Balloting tips off in the official host city when the Mystics take on the Sacramento Monarchs as a part of ESPN2's "WNBA Tuesdays" coverage. Fans worldwide will have the opportunity to select their favorite players as starters for the eighth WNBA All-Star Game by voting online at WNBA.com, by visiting t-zonesSM on their T-Mobile phones or by entering wap.wnba.com on their mobile phone. Fans can also vote in person at WNBA arenas, WNBA BE Tour locations, the NBA Store, NBA Nation and ESPN Zone in Washington, D.C.

The 65 players included on the 2007 All-Star ballot represent all 13 WNBA teams. Voters are asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each conference. A write-in option is also available, allowing fans to choose players not listed on the ballot.

The WNBA All-Star Balloting Program presented by AOL and T-Mobile will be conducted from May 22 through June 24. Following the completion of fan voting, starting line-ups will be announced on July 3. WNBA head coaches will then select the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, with the reserves being announced on July 8.

WNBA players will be extremely visible around town during All-Star Weekend, participating in community outreach initiatives that will leave lasting and positive impressions in the Washington, D.C. area. Several projects will take place, including the Nike/WNBA Court Refurbishment and the opening of a Reading and Learning Center through the WNBA Cares Legacy Event in conjunction with Toyota. Also on July 15, select WNBA players will again compete against each other in the Dribble, Dish & Swish Skills Challenge as well as the Three-Point Shoot Out, both of which are sponsored by adidas and included in the price of admission to the All-Star Game. Additionally, the second annual All-Star Salute: Celebrating Inspiration Luncheon will take place in the nation's capital that week, honoring women who inspire, motivate and help ignite the dreams and aspirations of women in all fields of endeavor. The event will be highlighted by the presentation of the WNBA Inspiration Award which will be given to an individual or group who on a daily basis demonstrates the ability to inspire others through their commitment, passion and dedication to work, family and community.

Tickets at all price points can be purchased through WNBA.com, via Ticketmaster.com, at select Macy*s Department Stores in the Washington, D.C. area, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-202-397-SEAT. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Verizon Center Box Office. By hosting the 2007 All-Star Game, Washington, which also hosted the game in 2002, will join New York as the only cities to stage multiple WNBA All-Star games. In addition to hosting the league's first All-Star event on July 14, 1999, New York's Madison Square Garden was the site of the All-Star Game in 2003 and again last year during the league's 10th anniversary season. The Western Conference dominated play with a perfect 6-0 record before MVP Katie Douglas led the Eastern Conference to a 98-82 victory in last year's WNBA All-Star Game.

Now in its second decade of play, the WNBA features comprehensive national television coverage. ESPN2 and ABC will combine to televise up to 36 games nationally during the 2007 regular season and playoffs. Highlighting ESPN2's 16 regular season telecasts will be the second straight year of "WNBA Tuesdays", which includes 5 doubleheaders and WNBA action on 11 of 14 Tuesday nights in-season. NBA TV will complement ABC and ESPN2's coverage by televising 70 regular season and up to nine playoff games.

In 2006, the WNBA concluded its historic tenth season with an action-packed WNBA Playoffs. The 2006 WNBA Finals capped a playoff run in which the WNBA saw significant increases in attendance and viewership. The Finals, which aired live on ESPN2, saw the Detroit Shock top the Sacramento Monarchs in the first WNBA Finals match up ever to go to a fifth and deciding game.

The 2007 WNBA All-Star Ballot is as follows:

Western Conference Forwards

Sheryl Swoopes, Houston

Tina Thompson, Houston

Chamique Holdsclaw, Los Angeles

Christi Thomas, Los Angeles

Tamika Raymond, Minnesota

Svetlana Abrosimova, Minnesota

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix

Penny Taylor, Phoenix

DeMya Walker, Sacramento

Nicole Powell, Sacramento

Sophia Young, San Antonio

Vickie Johnson, San Antonio

Lauren Jackson, Seattle

Barbara Turner, Seattle

Guards

Roneeka Hodges, Houston

Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, Houston

Temeka Johnson, Los Angeles

Mwadi Mabika, Los Angeles

Seimone Augustus, Minnesota

Lindsey Harding, Minnesota

Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix

Kelly Miller, Phoenix

Kara Lawson, Sacramento

Ticha Penicheiro, Sacramento

Becky Hammon, San Antonio

Marie Ferdinand-Harris, San Antonio

Sue Bird, Seattle

Betty Lennox, Seattle

Centers

Michelle Snow, Houston

Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Los Angeles

Nicole Ohlde, Minnesota

Tangela Smith, Phoenix

Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento

Ruth Riley, San Antonio

Janell Burse, Seattle

Eastern Conference

Forwards

Candice Dupree, Chicago

Monique Currie, Chicago

Ashja Jones, Connecticut

Nykesha Sales, Connecticut

Cheryl Ford, Detroit

Swin Cash, Detroit

Tamika Catchings, Indiana

Tamika Whitmore, Indiana

Shameka Christon, New York

Cathrine Kraayeveld, New York

Delisha Milton-Jones, Washington

Crystal Robinson, Washington

Guards

Dominique Canty, Chicago

Stacey Dales, Chicago

Lindsay Whalen, Connecticut

Katie Douglas, Connecticut

Katie Smith, Detroit

Deanna Nolan, Detroit

Tully Bevilaqua, Indiana

Anna DeForge, Indiana

Loree Moore, New York

Sherill Baker, New York

Alana Beard, Washington

Nikki Teasley, Washington

Centers

Kayte Christensen, Chicago

Margo Dydek, Connecticut

Kara Braxton, Detroit

Tammy Sutton-Brown, Indiana

Jessica Davenport, New York

Chasity Melvin, Washington

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