WNBA Women's National Basketball Association

WNBA announces final rosters for All-Star Gamew

July 6, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release


NEW YORK, JULY 5 - WNBA Eastern and Western Conference coaches have selected the 12 players who will round out the 2005 WNBA All-Star teams.

The WNBA marquee game of the year will showcase the league's stars ranging from savvy veterans like the Los Angeles Sparks' Lisa Leslie and Chamique Holdsclaw and Connecticut Sun's Nykesha Sales, who are all making their sixth trip to WNBA All-Star; to the All-Star debuts of four of the WNBA's brightest young stars, Washington's Alana Beard, New York's Ann Wauters, Sacramento's DeMya Walker and Houston's Michelle Snow. Following are the player additions for the Western and Eastern Conferences for the 2005 WNBA

All-Star Game:

Western Conference Additions:

Chamique Holdsclaw (Los Angeles Sparks) Forward
DeMya Walker (Sacramento Monarchs) Forward
Katie Smith (Minnesota Lynx) Guard
Marie Ferdinand (San Antonio Silver Stars) Guard
Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks) Center
Michelle Snow (Houston Comets) Center

Eastern Conference Additions:

Taj McWilliams-Franklin (Connecticut Sun) Forward
Cheryl Ford (Detroit Shock) Forward
Deanna Nolan (Detroit Shock) Guard
Nykesha Sales (Connecticut Sun) Guard
Alana Beard (Washington Mystics) Guard
Ann Wauters (New York Liberty) Center

About the Eastern Conference Additions:

-Connecticut's Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Nykesha Sales, who have paced the Sun to the best start in franchise history, are the only tandem in the WNBA currently averaging 15 points plus per game.

-Detroit's Deanna Nolan, who is ranked third in the league in scoring (17.8), posted the league's fourth triple-double of all-time (11 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) on opening night.

-Shock forward Cheryl Ford, who is ranked second in the league in rebounding (9.8) has helped the Shock dominate the glass as the Shock lead the league in rebounding (36.8).

-New York's Ann Wauters, is ranked sixth in the league in field-goal percentage (.534).

-Washington's Alana Beard has led the Mystics to a third place spot in the Eastern Conference and is ranked eighth in the league in steals (1.82).

About the Western Conference Additions:

-The Los Angeles Sparks are represented by three-time WNBA All-Star MVP Lisa Leslie and five-time All-Star and new member to the WNBA's 3,000 point club Chamique Holdsclaw.

-Minnesota's Katie Smith, who ranks third on the WNBA's all-time scoring list and is closing in on 5,000 points for her WNBA/ABL career.

-San Antonio's Marie Ferdinand, who missed half of the 2004 season due to injury has bounced back to All-Star form and will be making her third appearance.

-Sacramento's DeMya Walker has helped the Monarchs post a conference best 11-5 record and she's averaging career bests in points, rebounds, steals, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage.

-Houston's Michelle Snow, who was the 2003 WNBA Most Improved Player has continued her progress and leads the league in field-goal percentage (.587) and is ranked fifth in rebounding (7.1) and sixth in blocked shots (1.62).

Detroit Shock's Swin Cash has been activated for tonight's game versus the Houston Comets and therefore, will play in her second WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday.

The 2005 WNBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, July 9 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ABC at 4:00 p.m. EDT.

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