Catchings Among Six WNBA Stars Making Virtual History

WNBA News Release | February 16, 2007

Catchings is one of three WNBA stars classified with "master" skills in EA Sports' new NBA STREET Homecourt video game.
Image courtesy of EA Sports
NEW YORK � Six WNBA players are featured in a new videogame by Electronic Arts entitled NBA STREET Homecourt. Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Diana Taurasi are the first female professional athletes to ever be featured and go head-to-head with their male counterparts in a videogame.

�It�s just fantastic that WNBA players are the first female professional basketball players to be featured in video gaming,� said WNBA President Donna Orender. �It�s real recognition in terms of their accomplishments and achievements and its testament to their great appeal. Gamers are going to have a great time with NBA STREET Homecourt.�

NBA STREET Homecourt features the NBA�s biggest stars rendered with meticulous detail, and, for the first time ever in a videogame, six WNBA stars. Fans can go from an unknown talent to a playground legend while putting their home court on the map by dominating opponents from coast to coast. Fans can take on the WNBA and NBA�s best and walk away a hero.

�We�re excited that NBA STREET Homecourt will be the first videogame to include the WNBA,� said EA�s Director of Marketing Jordan Edelstein. �Featuring six of the WNBA�s biggest stars, hardcore basketball fans are going to love the opportunity to battle with players like Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird against the stars of the NBA, like Carmelo Anthony, Rip Hamilton and Dwyane Wade. We�ve been looking for the right way to bring the WNBA to a videogame, and NBA STREET Homecourt is the answer we�ve been looking for.�

NBA STREET Homecourt exhibits amazing visuals and innovative gameplay, as the all-new Trick Remixer allows for control of a player�s rhythm by mixing quick tricks with elaborate moves, all with the simplicity of two trick buttons. Players can perform crossovers with an instantaneous response and string together the perfect blend of combinations to take over any game. Flight controls enable a player to leap off the shoulders of a teammate for a dunk, or pull off the ultimate double dunk to burn an opponent and electrify the crowd.

Boasting the playability of the original NBA STREET, the fun-factor of NBA STREET Vol. 2, and the refinement of 2005�s NBA STREET V3, fans of the series will find the core of the franchise intact, while platform-defining additions revolutionize the overall experience.

Featuring over-the-top 3-on-3 street basketball gameplay, the game was developed in Vancouver, B.C. by EA Canada under the EA SPORTS BIG� brand. NBA STREET Homecourt will be available for the PLAYSTATION�3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360� video game and entertainment system. The game is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI. Its MSRP is $59.99. For more information, log onto easports.com/nbastreet4. Media can find screenshots and videos from the game at http://info.ea.com.