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NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2007 - WNBA All-Star 2007 will take place at Verizon Center in Washington, DC this summer, it was announced today by league President Donna Orender. The game will be held on Sunday, July 15 at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised on ABC. It marks the second time that the WNBA All-Star Game will be played in the nation’s capital. Washington also hosted the 2002 All-Star festivities.

“The WNBA All-Star Game is a festive celebration that will feature world-class athletes, family-oriented activities and entertainment as well as community projects, all of which will showcase the WNBA’s connection to our fans and the community,” said Orender.

“Bringing the WNBA All-Star Game to Washington is a reward for our fans and testament to what a great market this is for women’s basketball,” said Sheila Johnson, President and Managing Partner of the Washington Mystics. “We look forward to hosting the greatest players in the world, and this is a fitting occasion for the Mystics as we celebrate 10 years in Washington!”

Premium tickets and those at all price points will be available to the general public in a pre-sale from now until Sunday, January 21 at 10 p.m. ET. In addition, Mystics season ticket holders as well as season ticket holders from all other 12 WNBA teams will receive access to priority tickets during this time period. Tickets 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 Verizon Center's Box Office.

On game day, select 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.

WNBA players will be extremely visible around town 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.

Additionally, the second annual All-Star Salute: Celebrating Inspiration Luncheon will honor 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.

By hosting the 2007 All-Star Game, the eighth in WNBA history, Washington will join New York as the only cities to stage multiple WNBA All-Star games. In addition to hosting the league’s first All-Star event on July 14, 1999, New York’s Madison Square Garden was the site of the All-Star Game in 2003 and again last year during the league’s 10th anniversary season. Washington, D.C. also hosted the game in 2002. The Western Conference dominated play with a perfect 6-0 record before MVP Katie Douglas led the Eastern Conference to a 98-82 victory in last year’s WNBA All-Star Game.

About the WNBA
In 2006, the WNBA concluded its historic tenth season with an action-packed WNBA Finals. The 2006 WNBA Finals presented by Vonage capped a playoff run in which the WNBA saw significant increases in attendance and viewership. The Finals, which aired live on ESPN2, saw the Detroit Shock top the Sacramento Monarchs in the first WNBA Finals match up ever to go to a fifth and deciding game.