The 15 greatest WNBA players of all time to be unveiled at halftime
In celebration of its historic 15th season, the WNBA is honoring the most influential players since its inception in 1997 with the Top 15 Players of all time. The players, who were voted on by fans, national and WNBA-market media, and current players and coaches, will be present at the WNBA All-Star Game and unveiled during halftime.
The WNBA Eastern Conference All-Star roster includes starters Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles^ (Connecticut Sun), Katie Douglas (Indiana Fever), Angel McCoughtry^ (Atlanta Dream) and Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty), along with reserves Essence Carson^ (New York Liberty), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Crystal Langhorne^ (Washington Mystics), Renee Montgomery^ (Connecticut Sun), Epiphanny Prince^ (Chicago Sky) and Courtney Vandersloot^ (Chicago Sky).
The WNBA Western Conference All-Star roster includes starters Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Seattle Storm), Maya Moore^ (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker^ (Los Angeles Sparks) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), along with reserves Danielle Adams^ (San Antonio Silver Stars), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota Lynx), Becky Hammon (San Antonio Silver Stars), Penny Taylor (Phoenix Mercury) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).
Due to injury, Parker will not partake in the weekend’s activities. Replacement players, who will take the roster spot of players who cannot play due to injury, will be named by the WNBA President Laurel Richie later today.
The starters were selected by fan voting, and reserves were picked by the league’s 12 head coaches based on a set voting criteria. Included in the rosters are a record 10 first-time all-stars – breaking the record set in 2000 when nine were selected.
WNBA All-Star Game on ABC
- Live introductions of the WNBA All-Star Eastern and Western Conference Teams;
- Select interviews with many of the Top 15 Players throughout the telecast;
- Head coaches Brian Agler of Seattle and Marynell Meadors of Atlanta will wear microphones, and new to this year’s telecast, the announcers will be able to have an ongoing conversation with them live during the game;
- In addition, select players and game officials will be wearing microphones;
- A variety of star players from around the league will deliver messages on the impact the last 15 years of the league has meant to them and to women in general;
- The announcement of the 2012 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Class, including a phone interview with one of the inductees.
- Capsules on each of the WNBA All-Stars competing in the mid-season event;
- WNBA All-Star starter Tamika Catchings blogs about her experiences as she will be playing in her seventh WNBA All-Star Game;
- Feature on the Seattle Storm’s Sue Bird, who is also a seven-time All-Star;
- On espnW.com and espn.com – Michelle Smith, Mechelle Voepel and Graham Hays determine ESPN’s top 15 WNBA all-time players, including analysis on each pick;
- Live coverage of the All-Star Game including commentary and perspective pieces throughout the game;
- Live coverage on espnW.com from the game – focusing on the star and top storylines of the event;
- Video incorporating a slice of the atmosphere in the AT&T Center leading up to the game.
ESPN Digital Media
- ESPN.com will feature Voepel’s column on the Silver Stars, and how this is the franchise’s big weekend to shine and a WNBA All-Star Game preview;
- WNBA All-Star Live: A social media event on ESPN.com including live commentary, chats and polls with Twitter feeds from ESPN experts and WNBA personalities;
- WNBA All-Star Game Alerts on ESPN Mobile.
The WNBA and ESPN
ESPN has televised WNBA games since the league’s inaugural season in 1997, including the first All-Star Game in 1999. In addition to ABC’s presentation of the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game presented by adidas, ESPN2 and ABC will combine to air 13 regular-season games in the 15th season of the WNBA. All games will be offered in high definition and every ESPN2 game will be simulcast on ESPN3.com.
^ – denotes first-time All-Star selection
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