ALL-STAR RESERVES INCLUDE SIX OLYMPIANS
WNBA All-Star Rosters Completed
Jackson

Leslie

Smith

NEW YORK, July 11 -- The WNBA announced the 12 players selected by WNBA head coaches as reserves for the 2001 WNBA All-Star Game. The pool of talent features six former Olympians, including Charlotte guard Dawn Staley, Minnesota forward Katie Smith, Utah forward Natalie Williams and Los Angeles center Lisa Leslie from the 2000 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team; Seattle center Lauren Jackson from 2000 silver medalist Australia; and Miami forward Elena Baranova from Russia, who won gold with the Unified Team in 1992.

The 2001 WNBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Orlando Miracle and the City of Orlando on Monday, July 16 and will be televised nationally on ESPN beginning at 8 p.m. EDT.

Stiles

Jones

Staley and Baranova will be joined on the East team by Charlotte guard Andrea Stinson, Miracle forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Cleveland teammates Merlakia Jones at guard and Chasity Melvin at forward. Smith, Williams, Jackson and Leslie, the MVP of the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game in 1999, will be joined in the West by guards Jackie Stiles from Portland and Tamecka Dixon from Los Angeles.

Starters for the game were determined by fan votes cast in the WNBA All-Star Balloting Program Presented by Yahoo! Sports. The East starters include forward Chamique Holdsclaw and guard Nikki McCray from Washington, and three players from the New York Liberty: guard Teresa Weatherspoon, forward Vickie Johnson and center Tari Phillips.

Starters for the West include forward Tina Thompson and guard Janeth Arcain from Houston, and another trio of teammates: Sacramento's Yolanda Griffith at center, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at forward and Ticha Penicheiro at guard.

New York Liberty coach Richie Adubato will guide the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the second consecutive season, while Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor will lead the West squad for the third time. Chancellor and the Western Conference are undefeated in the two previous WNBA All-Star Games.

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Starters announced for 2001 WNBA All-Star Game