NEW YORK, July 1, 2007 --- The WNBA announced tonight that the league�s Western Conference All-Star team will be led by Sacramento Monarchs first-year head coach, Jenny Boucek, while Bill Laimbeer of the Detroit Shock will serve as head coach of the Eastern Conference squad. It is the first such honor for both coaches.

The All-Star Game, the eighth in league history, will be held on Sunday, July 15 in Washington, D.C. and will be televised nationally on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Laimbeer will lead the Eastern Conference by virtue of having guided his club to the Eastern Conference crown (and ultimately the WNBA championship) last season. Boucek, meanwhile, earned the honor following a change in the method by which the Western Conference head coach would be selected in 2007.

Pursuant to WNBA guidelines, the coach of the previous season's conference champion typically serves as the All-Star coach for that conference, provided that he or she remains in the same capacity. As John Whisenant resigned his head coaching position with the Monarchs after leading the club to the 2006 Western Conference title and is now serving as the team�s General Manager, the Western Conference All-Star coach was selected on the basis of the team with the best winning percentage through July 1.

Sacramento earned its Conference-leading eleventh win by topping Minnesota this evening. The Monarchs 11-6 record gives them a .647 winning percentage that ranks atop the Western Conference, ahead of second place San Antonio (9-6, .600).

"I'm honored to be representing the Western Conference and Sacramento at the All-Star Game," said Boucek, the first person in WNBA history to serve as player, assistant coach and head coach in the league. "All the credit goes to our team. I am so proud to be a part of the Sacramento Monarchs and I wish they could all be there with us."

�The East earned its first All-Star win last year and we�ll be looking to make it two in a row this year while putting on a great show,� said Laimbeer. �Winning the championship last year was a lot of fun and this is one of the perks that comes along with that.�

Tom Abatemarco, Monique Ambers and Steve Shuman, who served under Whisenant last year and now serve as aides to Boucek, will be the assistant coaches for the Western Conference squad. Laimbeer�s assistants will be Rick Mahorn and Cheryl Reeve, both of whom helped Detroit capture the WNBA title a year ago. Though he led the Shock to the 2003 WNBA title, there was, technically, not a WNBA All-Star Game in 2004. Instead, the WNBA hosted USA Basketball�s senior women�s team in a pre-Olympics match-up billed as �WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Game at Radio City.� Laimbeer coached the squad of WNBA stars in a game ultimately won by USAB, 74-58.

Fans worldwide took part in the WNBA All-Star Balloting Program presented by AOL and T-Mobile, voting for their favorite players to be starters in the eighth WNBA All-Star Game. The voting, which took place between May 22 and June 24, will be capped off on July 3 when the game�s starters are announced live at halftime of ESPN2�s national telecast featuring the Los Angeles Sparks at the Seattle Storm. WNBA head coaches will then select the remaining All-Stars in their respective conferences, with the reserves being announced on July 10.

Tickets at all price points can be purchased through WNBA.com, via Ticketmaster.com, at select Macy's Department Stores in the Washington, D.C. area, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-202-397-SEAT. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Verizon Center Box Office.

WNBA players will be extremely visible around Washington, DC during All-Star Weekend, participating in community outreach initiatives that will leave lasting and positive impressions in the Washington, D.C. area. Several projects will take place, including the Nike/WNBA Court Refurbishment and the opening of a Reading and Learning Center through the WNBA Cares Legacy Event in conjunction with Toyota.

Also on July 15, select WNBA players will again compete against each other in the Dribble, Dish & Swish Skills Challenge as well as the Three-Point Shoot Out, both of which are sponsored by adidas and included in the price of admission to the All-Star Game.

Additionally, the second annual All-Star Salute: Celebrating Inspiration Luncheon will take place in the nation�s capital on July 13 at the Mayflower Hotel, honoring women who inspire, motivate and help ignite the dreams and aspirations of women in all fields of endeavor. The event will be highlighted by the presentation of the WNBA Inspiration Award which will be given to an individual or group who on a daily basis demonstrates the ability to inspire others through their commitment, passion and dedication to work, family and community.