NEW YORK, July 8, 2003 -- The 2003 WNBA All-Star Game, which will showcase the most talented female basketball players in the world, will be televised in a record 183 countries around the globe with commentary in 26 languages. The fifth annual WNBA All-Star Game will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, July 12, and will be broadcast live in the U.S. on ABC at 4:00 PM/ET.

Lauren Jackson is one of the WNBA's international stars in this year's All-Star Game. Jeff Reinking/WNBAE/Getty Images

Several telecasters will televise the game for the first time including JSky Sports (Japan), Deportes 13 (Puerto Rico), NTV (Turkey), LTV (Cyprus), TVM (Mozambique), TPA (Angola) and ART (Pan-Middle East).

"With the tremendous growth of women�s basketball worldwide, there is an increased demand from international broadcasters to televise WNBA action," said Scott Levy, Vice President, NBA. "We look forward to working with our international television partners in showcasing the WNBA�s finest players around the globe.�

The WNBA features 30 international players from 19 countries and territories on team rosters this season. Among the international players on WNBA All-Star 2003 rosters, are the Seattle Storm's Lauren Jackson (Australia) and the San Antonio Silver Stars� Margo Dydek (Poland).

The WNBA is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the WNBA All-Star Game in 2003 by returning to its inaugural site, New York City. This year, the WNBA All-Star Game makes its broadcast debut on ABC
at 4:00 PM/ET, following the All-Star pre-game Show on ESPN2 at 3:30 PM/ET.