First time that WNBA players have been featured in a basketball video game

Diana Taurasi Featured in EA Sports� NBA STREET HOMECOURT

PHOENIX, Feb. 21, 2007 – The Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi is one of six WNBA players included in EA Sports’ NBA STREET Homecourt video game. This represents the first time ever that WNBA players have been featured in a basketball video game. This also represents the first time female professional athletes have gone head-to-head with their male counterparts in a basketball video game.

"I'm excited to be a part of NBA STREET Homecourt," says Taurasi. "It's an honor to be included in the first video game featuring WNBA players and really shows forward thinking on the part of EA Sports. Women's basketball is a popular sport around the world; a part of everyday culture for kids just like video games. EA Sports saw a chance to provide exposure and equality for WNBA players through this new game. That's groundbreaking on a lot of levels."

NBA STREET Homecourt can be played on Xbox360 and Sony PS3. The Xbox360 version ships to retailers on Feb. 20 and the PS3 version ships on March 6. NBA STREET Homecourt is available world-wide and is issued bi-yearly; this is the fourth version of this critically acclaimed and multi-platinum selling game. Other WNBA players featured in the game are Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson.

“We’re excited that NBA STREET Homecourt will be the first video game to include the WNBA,” says Jordan Edelstein, Director of Marketing for Electronic Arts. “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 video game, and NBA STREET Homecourt is the answer we’ve been looking for.”

Winners of a franchise-high seven straight to finish 2006, the Phoenix Mercury look to pick up where they left off led by All-Stars Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter in the record-shattering offense of head coach Paul Westhead. Under the direction of new general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale and owners of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft, the Mercury open their 11th WNBA season on Saturday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at US Airways Center against the San Antonio Silver Stars.