- Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Tamika Catchings Top Vote Getters -
- Bird Unable to Participate in All-Star Weekend due to Knee Surgery -

NEW YORK, July 3, 2007 - The starting lineups for the 2007 WNBA All-Star Game have been selected by the fans, it was announced today by the WNBA. The All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, July 15 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. and will be televised nationally on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, who was selected as a starter for the fifth time, garnered 128,838 fan votes to lead all vote-getters in the 2007 WNBA All-Star Balloting Program presented by AOL and T-Mobile. Following closely behind were Phoenix Mercury forward Diana Taurasi (124,918) and Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings (124,144).

Bird, however, will be unable to participate in the 2007 All-Star Game, it was announced tonight by the Storm during their game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Bird will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT on Friday, July 6. She will then return to Seattle to recuperate and will remain there through the All-Star Break.

A three-time All-Star, Taurasi ranks sixth in the WNBA with 18.2 points to go along with 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Catchings, a five-time All-Star, averages 16.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.

Two players - Anna DeForge and Kara Braxton - join the lineup as first time All-Stars. San Antonio's Becky Hammon, who was traded from the New York Liberty to the Silver Stars prior to the 2007 season, becomes just the second player in WNBA history to be voted as a starter for both the East and the West squads during her career. Dawn Staley became the first to accomplish this feat last season.

All-Star reserves, as selected by Head Coaches in their respective conferences, will be announced Monday. A replacement for Bird will be named by WNBA President Donna Orender after the reserves are announced. Western Conference Head Coach Jenny Boucek will then select (from among the reserves and replacement players) a player to start in Bird's place.

While the reserves for both conferences will be announced on Monday, July 9, the following are the starting lineups for the 2007 WNBA All-Star Game:

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 from May 22 - June 24. WNBA head coaches will select the remaining All-Stars in their respective conferences, with the reserves being announced on July 9.

As previously announced, Bill Laimbeer of the Detroit Shock and Jenny Boucek of the Sacramento Monarchs will coach the Eastern and Western Conference All-Stars, respectively. 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.

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, D.C. 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.

2007 WNBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING PROGRAM
PRESENTED BY AOL and T-MOBILE

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL RETURNS

Forwards: Tamika Catchings (Ind) 124,144; Cheryl Ford (Det) 117,736; Tamika Whitmore (Ind) 85,460; Swin Cash (Det) 84,714; Candice Dupree (Chi) 69,279; Cathrine Kraayeveld (NY) 54,791; Shameka Christon (NY) 53,453; Delisha Milton-Jones (Wash) 51,414; Monique Currie (Wash) 49,605; Nykesha Sales (Conn) 42,414; Asjha Jones (Conn) 35,555; Crystal Robinson (Wash) 18,297.

Centers: Kara Braxton (Det) 121,436; Tammy Sutton-Brown (Ind) 78,798; Kayte Christensen (Chi) 65,539; Chasity Melvin (Chi) 61,588; Jessica Davenport (NY) 53,172; Margo Dydek (Conn) 45,841.

Guards: Deanna Nolan (Det) 95,058; Anna DeForge (Ind) 84,498; Katie Smith (Det) 79,798; Tully Bevilaqua (Ind) 76,016; Alana Beard (Wash) 75,817; Loree Moore (NY) 62,516; Lindsay Whalen (Conn) 57,953; Nikki Teasley (Wash) 53,750; Katie Douglas (Conn) 50,150; Sherill Baker (NY) 41,371; Stacey Dales (Chi) 41,125; Dominique Canty (Chi) 35,025.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL RETURNS

Forwards: Diana Taurasi (Phx) 124,918; Lauren Jackson (Sea) 102,800; Penny Taylor (Phx) 55,653; Vickie Johnson (SA) 54,480; Sheryl Swoopes (Hou) 50,352; Nicole Powell (Sac) 49,414; Tina Thompson (Hou) 41,876; Svetlana Abrosimova (Minn) 40,208; Chamique Holdsclaw (LA) 39,596; DeMya Walker (Sac) 31,945; Sophia Young (SA) 27,947; Barbara Turner (Hou) 17,742; Carla Thomas (LA) 13,564; Tamika Raymond (Minn) 12,275.

Centers: Yolanda Griffith (Sac) 87,895; Janell Burse (Sea) 70,697; Tangela Smith (Phx) 52,980; Taj McWilliams-Franklin (LA) 42,494; Ruth Riley (SA) 41,883; Michelle Snow (Hou) 28,832; Nicole Ohlde (Minn) 19,786.

Guards: Sue Bird (Sea) 128,838; Becky Hammon (SA) 98,694; Cappie Pondexter (Phx) 69,347; Seimone Augustus (Minn) 68,313; Betty Lennox (Sea) 65,033; Kara Lawson (Sac) 62,986; Kelly Miller (Phx) 60,043; Ticha Penicheiro (Sac) 52,075; Lindsey Harding (Minn) 39,961; Marie Ferdinand-Harris (SA) 28,297; Mwadi Mabika (LA) 16,947; Hamchetou Maiga-Ba (Hou) 16,229; Temeka Johnson (LA) 13,117; Roneeka Hodges (Hou) 10,333.