NEW YORK, JUNE 30 � Houston Comets star forward Sheryl Swoopes is the leading vote-getter in the WNBA�s 2005 All-Star balloting, the fifth time in her career that she has earned this distinction. Swoopes, who is one of the WNBA�s nine original players, has been the top vote-getter in five of the league�s six All-Star games (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003). Swoopes, who has spent her entire WNBA career with the Houston Comets, led the team to four WNBA Championship titles (1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000) and has led the West to four WNBA All-Star Game victories. She currently ranks third in the league in scoring (18.2) and steals (2.42).

The Indiana Fever�s Tamika Catchings received the second highest votes in the balloting. The star forward and three-time WNBA All-Star is currently leading the league in steals and ranks fifth in assists. Catchings was the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year and is the only player in the WNBA currently in the top 15 in scoring (13.7), steals (2.62), assists (4.9) and rebounds (7.1).

In addition, two of the leagues� top players will be making their first WNBA All-Star appearances. The game will bring 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year and Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi back to Connecticut as one of the Western Conference�s elite players. The Detroit Shock�s Ruth Riley, the 2003 WNBA Finals MVP, will also be making her WNBA All-Star debut. Following are the starting lineups for the Western and Eastern Conferences for the 2005 WNBA All-Star Game:

Western Conference Starters:
Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets) Forward
Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm) Forward
Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) Guard
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) Guard
Yolanda Griffith (Sacramento Monarchs) Center

Eastern Conference Starters:
Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) Forward
Swin Cash (Detroit Shock) Forward
Dawn Staley (Charlotte Sting) Guard
Becky Hammon (New York Liberty) Guard
Ruth Riley (Detroit Shock) Center

About the West�s Starting Five: In addition to Sheryl Swoopes, the Western Conference 2005 WNBA All-Star starting lineup features Seattle Storm forward and four-time WNBA All-Star Lauren Jackson. Jackson is leading the league in rebounds (9.6), ranks fourth in blocked shots (2.21) and sixth in scoring (16.8); Sacramento Monarchs Yolanda Griffith, a five-time All-Star, who ranks fourth in the league in rebounds (7.3); Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, a three-time All-Star, currently leads the league in free-throw percentage (.963) and is second in the league in assists (5.9); and Phoenix Mercury star guard Diana Taurasi. Taurasi ranks second in the league in scoring (18.5).

About the East�s Starting Five: Together with Tamika Catchings, the Eastern Conference 2005 WNBA All-Star starting lineup includes Charlotte Sting guard and four-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley who is third in the league in assists (5.8) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.478); New York Liberty guard Becky Hammon who will be making her third WNBA All-Star appearance. Hammon is fourth in the league in free-throw percentage (.914) and ranks seventh overall in assists (4.4); Detroit Shock center Ruth Riley, and Detroit Shock forward Swin Cash. Cash, who is recovering from an ACL injury, has not been activated thus far this season. This is Cash�s second selection as a WNBA All-Star.

While the West has won all previous WNBA All-Star Games, the Eastern Conference is currently tracking far better against their Western Conference rivals this season. In head-to-head battles, Eastern Conference teams have won 20 out of the 35 games played so far this season against the West. Eastern Conference leading Connecticut Sun are 9-1 against the West and 11-2 overall.

The 2005 WNBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, July 9 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ABC at 4:00 p.m. EDT.