Moore says all-star game a celebration of women's basketball

A year ago, Lynx rookie Maya Moore was still in college and a member of the U.S. team preparing for the Women's Basketball Championships.

One step in that process, was playing a team of WNBA all-stars at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The U.S. team, with Maya's help, easily won that game 99-72. The UConn forward had 12 points and eight rebounds in almost 22 minutes of action. She made six of 13 shots from the field.

This year Moore is playing for the WNBA all-stars, for one that is. She will start for the Western Conference all-stars at forward after getting more fans votes at that position than anyone else. Tip off is 2:30 p.m. Saturday in San Antonio. Ch. 5 will broadcast the game.

"The purpose of both events are a little different," Moore said. "For USA basketball, we came together to win. We were spending time together. Here [in Texas], it is more of a celebration for the fans and the league. It is a chance to be a little more loose. But we will still be competitive."

Three other rookies also will play in the game: C Liz Cambage of Tulsa and F Danielle Adams of San Antonio for the West and G Courtney Vandersloot of Chicago for the East.

"That makes me proud to be in that class," Moore said. "They are all athletic, talented and skiled. And we continue to learn early in our careers,"

Moore's West all-stars could be called Team UConn. She and three other starters -- all except Lynx teammate Rebekkah Brunson -- played for coach Geno Auriemma's Huskies.

The other West starters from UConn are guards Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird and forward Swin Cash.

The East all-stars have two former UConn players, center Tina Charles and reserve guard Renee Montgomery, an ex-Lynx player.

The six UConn players got together for pictures on the court on Friday.

"it was a family feeling, being with my former teammates at UConn" and some older players, Moore said. "It makes me proud of that program. Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery, the fresh, young players are both on the East team. i am with the oldies on the West and we will do our own thing."

Moore said it also will be fun to start with Brunson. "We have chemistty on the court together," Moore said. "It will be a fun moment to share with teammates."

Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen, Lynx guards, are West reserves.

MAYA AND MEDIA

Look for Moore on ESPN a lot this weekend. "You might see me in some videos," Moore said, "behind-the-scenes stuff. Like hanging with some of the girls and some activities.

"[Thursday] morning Rebekkah and I read with some little, kindergarden to second, third grade. They were on an army base. I love doing anything with kids. It's a blast. The kids are hilarious with the questions they ask."

Moore said she likes working with ESPN. "I enjoy being in front of the camera," Moore said. "I can see myself doing that in the future. And the more practice get, the better I am."

MAYA GAME BY GAME

A look at Maya Moore's game-by-game efforts. She was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft after leading UConn to a 150-4 record in four seaons.

THE MAYAN YEAR

June 2, Los Angeles 82, Lynx 74/ First pro game

Stats line: 21 points (7x17, incl. 4x11 on threes), 4 rebs., 4 assists

The quote: "I think she'll do great things in this league. She'll be a tough matchup for anybody." -- Candace Parker, Los Angeles

June 5, Lynx 86, Los Angles 69/ Home debut

Stats line: 16 points, 14 in the second half (6x13, 2x6 on threes), 3 rebs.,1 assist, 2 steals

The quote: "She puts the ball in the hole for us and that's great, but she made so many big plays on defense for us, too." -- Coach Cheryl Reeve on Moore

June 7, Lynx 75, Tulsa 65/ Shooting struggles

Stats line: Only seven points (2x10, incl. 1x4 on threes), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

The quote: "With Maya, she was rushed. She got away from the poise that she had on Sunday [in a victory over Los Angeles]." -- Reeve

June 9, Lynx 81, Seattle 74/ Scoring touch returns

Stats line: 14 pts. (7x10, missed only three-point shot), 6 rebs., 1 assist

The quote: "Sometimes the ball just goes in. But I thought we came in with the right mindset and we were ready and prepared. We knew we had to come in with a really tough mindset because it's really hard to get wins in this place [KeyArena]." -- Moore

June 17, Lynx 96, Atlanta 85/ Missing on boards

Stats line: 13 pts. (6x14, 0x3 on threes), 2 rebs., 4 assists, 3 steals, zero turnovers

June 19, Lynx 77, Atlanta 64/ Filling up stats line

Stats line: 12 pts. (4x12, 1x4 on threes), 8 rebs., 5 assists, 1 block

The quote: "The energy in the building was great," Moore said. "I saw a bunch of people I knew that were there to support me. A lot of players from my former AAU team, the Georgia Metros were there, so I wanted to reach out to them and say thank you for coming. I was just glad that they were there to scream for my Lynx."

June 24, Seattle 65, Lynx 55/ Season low of 19 minutes, 6 seconds

Stats line: 4 pts. (2x7 on FGs, 0x4 on threes), did not get to line, 1 reb., 2 assists, 1 turnover ... in some foul trouble

June 26, Indiana 78, Lynx 75/ Rushed shot, made bad pass near end of game

Stats line: 21 pts. (7x15 from field, 3x5 on threes), 4 of 4 at free throw line, 4 rebs., 2 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers in 30:17

The quote: "Down the stretch, it is offense and execution," Moore said. "We took a couple of rush possessions when it counted. We very easily coupld have won the game. We were 12 of 19 from the free throw line as a team. It is just the little things."

June 30, Lynx 101, Tulsa 71/ Ball-handling woes

Stats line: 11 pts. (3x10 from field, 1x4 on threes), 4x4 at free throw line, 7 rebs., 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers in 26:46

July 9, Lynx 90. Connecticut 67/ Hitting threes

Stats line: season-high 26 pts. (6x9 on threes, 3x5 inside arc), 2 of 2 at free throw line, two rebounds, three assists, one turnover.

The quote: "This was one good game" for the Lynx, Moore said. "It's about putting together strings of good games. We're not going to get satisfied with this because as easily as we win by a lot, we can also lose games if we don't come out focused and come with the same defensive effort."

July 13, Phoenix 112, Lynx 105/ Scoreless from downtown

Stats line: 15 pts. (6x18, but 0x9 on threes), 5 rebs., 3 assists, 1 steal in 28 minutes. Also five fouls, including one on a Diana Taurasi three-pointer near end of game

July 15, Lynx 80, Indiana 70/ Double clutch

Stats line: 18 pts. (8x15, incl. 1x3 on threes), 7 rebs., 3 assists, 1 steal. Made two big plays at end, grabbing an offensive rebounds, and jarring ball away for Fever turnover

The quote: "It was a game of runs. We came out at the start of the game pretty well. We knew it was going to be tough. The pick and roll sequences had to be defended. We made the adjustment." -- Moore

July 16, Lynx 69, Seatte 62/ Best rebounding game

Stats line: 7 pts. (3x7, made only three attempt), 9 rebs., 3 assists, 2 steals.

July 20, Lynx 106, Phoenix 98 / Most steals this season

Stats line: 14 pts. (4x12, 1x4 on threes), 2 rebs., 2 assists, 4 steals.

The quote: "It was important for us to end this segment of the season and start off the next part with a lot of good momentum." -- Moore

In 14 games, all starts, Moore is averaging 14.2 pts., 4.8 rebs. and 2.6 apg, and shooting 42.5 percent on FGs, 30.9 percent on threes.