Maya of Lynx named starter for WNBA all-star game

Lynx forward Maya Moore will be the first rookie to start in the WNBA all-star game this year since 2002, when Tamika Catchings and Sue Bird both were on the floor for the opening tap.

Those two are in the all-star game again and now so is Moore. The former UConn star led all Western Conference forwards with 21,379 votes from fans. Swin Cash of Seattle was second with 14,907, followed by Rebekkah Brunson, Moore's teammate, with 12,223.

"Having fans - a new group of fans, some old fans, some in between... they made it happen," Moore said. "I'm excited to be a part of this year's all-star game."

The game will be held on July 23 in San Antonio this year. It will be broadcast at 2:30 p.m. that Saturday on ABC.

Last year as a college senior, Mooreed for Team USA, which was preparing for the World Championships, against a WNBA all-star team in an exhibition that took the place of the all-star game.

"[This is] a little bit [different], but a lot of the same," Moore said. "Just as far as being around a lot of great players, a lot of talented players. I think this setting is a little different. It'll be competitive, but it'll be a little more fun or light-hearted than last year.

"The fans will love it and we will put on a good show. You will probably see some people take more chances on the offensive end than you usually would in a World Championship setting. I'm expecting some fun times on the court."

"The chemistry will already be there when my teammates get selected [as reserves]... I would definitely want to share it with my teammates."

Besides Moore and Cash, other starters for the Western Conference are guards Sue Bird of Seattle and Diana Taurasi of Phoenix.

The starting center is still in doubt. Candace Parker of Los Angeles received the most votes at center, but she is injured (knee). WNBA president Laurel Richie will name her replacement. Seattle's Laren Jackson (hip) got the second most votes at center but she is hurt, too.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin was third in the voting, so she probably has a good chance of making her seventh all-star team as either the starter or a reserve.

The reserves on the team will be named during the Seattle-Chicago game starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN2.

TWO FROM INDIANA TO START

The starters for the Eastern Conference are Catchings and Angel McCoughtry of Atlanta at forwards, Katie Douglas of Indiana and Cappie Pondexter of New York at guards and Tina Charles of Connecticut at center.

Catchings led all vote-getters with 32,706.

Brian Agler of Seattle will coach the Western Conference team, Marynell Meadors the Eastern Conference team.

Two former Lynx players, center Nicky Anosike of Washington and guard Renee Montgomery of Connecticut were distant third-place finishers at their respective positions.

Forwards: Tamika Catchings (Ind) 32,706; Angel McCoughtry (Atl) 14,310; Asjha Jones (Conn) 9,767; Crystal Langhorne (Wash) 7,274; Plenette Pierson (NY) 6,985; Tangela Smith (Ind) 6,145; Nicole Powell (NY) 5,806; Michelle Snow (Chi) 5,634; Tan White (Conn) 4,341; Marissa Coleman (Wash) 4,200

Centers: Tina Charles (Conn) 17,205; Sylvia Fowles (Chi) 14,544; Nicky Anosike (Wash) 6,386; Tammy Sutton-Brown (Ind) 4,301

Guards: Cappie Pondexter (NY) 20,226; Katie Douglas (Ind) 18,598; Renee Montgomery (Conn) 12,511; Courtney Vandersloot (Chi) 9,560; Kara Lawson (Conn) 9,031; Essence Carson (NY) 4,901; Alana Beard (Wash) 4,855; Epiphanny Prince (Chi) 4,806; Lindsey Harding (Atl) 4,616; Iziane Castro Marques (Atl) 4,418; Kelly Miller (Wash) 3,740; Briann January (Ind) 3,706

WESTERN CONFERENCE -- FINAL LEADERS

Forwards: Maya Moore (Minn) 21,379; Swin Cash (Sea) 14,907; Rebekkah Brunson (Minn) 12,223; Tina Thompson (LA) 11,813; Penny Taylor (Phx) 9,666; Sophia Young (SA) 9,553; Candice Dupree (Phx) 9,013; Camille Little (Sea) 5,462; Ruth Riley (SA) 5,430; Sheryl Swoopes (Tul) 5,031; Delisha Milton-Jones (LA) 4,049