Beard, Ford, Douglas join starting lineup
Published on July 12, 2006 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK (JULY 11, 2006), - Washington Mystics guard Alana Beard, Detroit Shock center Cheryl Ford and Connecticut Sun guard/forward Katie Douglas will be inserted into the starting lineup for the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game Presented by Vonage, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Thibault.
The players, named as reserves by a vote among Eastern Conference head coaches last week, will fill the spots vacated earlier this week by injured players Tamika Catchings, Becky Hammon and Nykesha Sales. Sales is unable to play due to an Achilles tendon injury; Hammon is out with a sprained left ankle sustained over the weekend and Catchings is hobbled by acute Achilles tendonitis.
It will mark all three players' first opportunity to start an All-Star game. Beard will make her second All-Star appearance, Ford is making her third All-Star appearance and Douglas is making her All-Star debut. Douglas is part of a contingent of five All-Stars from the Connecticut Sun, a WNBA record. After WNBA President Donna Orender announced the replacement players on Monday, the revised starting lineup was determined by Thibault. His insertion of Douglas into the starting lineup ensures that Connecticut will claim three starters in the game. Douglas will take the place of injured Sun teammate Nykesha Sales and start alongside Lindsay Whalen and Margo Dydek. It would have marked the first opportunity for Sales to start an All-Star game, although she and Lisa Leslie are the only players who have participated in all seven All-Star games in WNBA history.
By virtue of their teams' respective conference championships in 2005, Connecticut's Thibault will coach the East All-Stars and Sacramento's John Whisenant will guide the West All-Stars.
Michelle Snow, the West's lone replacement player, will remain a reserve since she replaces Tina Thompson, who was voted in as a reserve by head coaches. Thompson will miss the game due to a strained right calf.
The 2006 WNBA All-Star Game Presented by Vonage will be hosted by the New York Liberty on Wednesday, July 12 at Madison Square Garden and will be televised nationally on ESPN at 7:20 p.m. EDT. ESPN's pregame show, WNBA Shootaround, begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
In addition, the game will be seen in a record 198 countries around the globe with commentary in 33 languages via 57 telecasters. This year's record global television distribution breaks last year's reach of 193 countries through 52 telecasters in 31 languages. The following telecasters will televise the game for the first time: Bahamas (NBA TV-Cable Bahamas, China (Nusports.cn), Iceland (NBA TV- Digital Island, Italy (Sportitalia), Mexico (TVC and NBA TV-PCTV, Middle East (NBA TV-Orbit), Serbia (Sport Klub), and Venezuela (NBA TV-Intercable).
WNBA rosters for the 2006 season feature 29 international players from 18 countries and territories on team rosters this season. Among the international players named WNBA All-Star 2006 starters, are the Seattle Storm's Lauren Jackson (Australia) and the Connecticut Sun's Margo Dydek (Poland).
With tickets starting at $10, fans can enjoy the unique experience of seeing the WNBA's superstars together in one place at Madison Square Garden, the World's Most Famous Arena. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com, at Ticketmaster Retail Locations, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-877-WNBA-TIX. Tickets are also available for purchase at Madison Square Garden's Box Office, through WNBA.com and at the NBA Store in New York.
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