Atlanta Dream Head Coach Michael Cooper to Coach East Squad at 2014 WNBA All-Star Game
June 30, 2014 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release
ATLANTA, June 30, 2014 - Atlanta Dream first-year head coach Michael Cooper will serve as head coach of the East squad for Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2014, the WNBA announced today. The game will be played on July 19 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Ariz., beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Under WNBA guidelines, the coach of the previous season's conference champion serves as the All-Star coach for that conference, provided that the coach remains in the same position. With that, Minnesota's Cheryl Reeve, who guided the Lynx to the 2013 WNBA title, earned her spot on the West bench.
Since Fred Williams, head coach of the 2013 Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Dream, is now at the helm in Tulsa, the East head coach was selected based on the club with the best winning percentage through games on June 29. With a current mark of 11-4 (.733), Atlanta's Cooper has secured the honor.
It will be the third such honor of Cooper's career, having previously led the West team in 2002 and 2003 after leading the Los Angeles Sparks to WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002.
Starting lineups for the game are determined by fan participation via the 2014 WNBA All-Star Balloting presented by Boost Mobile. The WNBA will announce the starters on July 8 during the nationally televised game on ESPN2 featuring the Los Angeles Sparks at the Minnesota Lynx (9 p.m. ET). Reserves, which are voted on by the WNBA's head coaches, will be announced on ESPN2 on July 15 during the game between the Sparks and the Indiana Fever (8 p.m. ET).
The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream is in its seventh season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Dream has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, including conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010. Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2014 season can be purchased by calling (877) 977-7729 or visiting www.AtlantaDream.net . The next home game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, against the Indiana Fever at 8:00 p.m. The complete 2014 schedule can be found at www.wnba.com/dream/schedule .
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- Atlanta Dream Head Coach Michael Cooper to Coach East Squad at 2014 WNBA All-Star Game - Atlanta Dream
- Cheryl Reeve and Michael Cooper to Serve as Head Coaches for WNBA All-Star 20014 - WNBA
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