Courtside from San Antonio.
What’s good, everyone?! This is Ben coming to you live from the AT&T Center in San Antonio for the 2011 WNBA All-Star game. I suppose it’s worth noting that this is Ben York since there are, like, 14 people named Ben who are part of SLAM’s extended family.
Today’s game is nationally broadcast on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET so be sure to tune in. As part of its historic 15th season celebration, the WNBA is honoring the most influential players since its inception in 1997, and the Top 15 players of all time will be unveiled during a special halftime presentation. You definitely don’t want to miss that.
SLAM’s own Swin Cash will be holding it down all weekend for y’all. Follow Swin on Twitter and be on the lookout for her exclusive blog and behind the scenes video.
West Roster
Guards: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm | Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury | Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx | Lindsay Whalen, Minnesota Lynx | Becky Hammon, San Antonio Silver Stars
Forwards: Swin Cash, Seattle Storm | Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx | Danielle Adams, San Antonio Silver Stars | Penny Taylor, Phoenix Mercury | Rebekkah Brunson, Minnesota Lynx
Centers: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (injured) | Liz Cambage, Tulsa Shock (replacement)
East Roster
Guards: Katie Douglas, Indiana Fever | Cappie Pondexter, New York Liberty | Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky | Epiphanny Prince, Chicago Sky | Renee Montgomery, Connecticut Sun
Forwards: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever | Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream | Essence Carson, New York Liberty | Crystal Langhorne, Washington Mystics
Centers: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun | Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky
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Pre-Game
- Media availability from 1:00 – 1:45. We’ll get started shortly. In the meantime, check out this recap of the festivities so far.
- 1:40, 50 minutes to tip-off: Players made their way onto the court for warm-ups. Players dressed in their traditional team warm-ups with their Halloween All-Star jerseys underneath.
- Return of the Mack came on the speakers during All-Star warm-ups. Yes, this is worth noting.
- People asked for my prediction for the game. I predict they will play it cool until someone starts to feel like they’re losing. Then, they’ll turn it up.
- Tamika Catchings has paced the WNBA in All-Star ball0ting three times in her career, including 2011. Catchings led all players with 32,706 votes this year.
- Four first-year players were selected for this year’s All-Star game – Maya Moore, Danielle Adams, Courtney Vandersloot, and Liz Cambage.
- Five first-time starters this year as well – Maya Moore, Cappie Pondexter, Tina Charles, Angel McCoughtry, and Candace Parker (voted in though unable to play due to injury).
- Candice Wiggins of the Minnesota Lynx and Skylar Diggins of Notre Dame are in the house.
- 30 minutes until the tip. Player intro’s should begin shortly.
- Players take the court for a quick warm-up, but not before tossing free t-shirts into the crowd. Screaming ensues.
- I’ve counted six players so far singing/rapping along to Nicky Minaj’s “Super Bass.”
- Moment of silence for Rebecca Lobo’s mother, RuthAnn, who recently lost her battle with cancer.
- Three minutes to tip-off/official player intro’s.
- Cant’ really say anything yet, but there are quite a few legends in attendance. Y’all do NOT want to miss the half-time show.
- Really cool highlight montage shown. Player intro’s begin.
- Love the cowboy (or, cowgirl) hats the starters are wearing. Also, they are dancing which is awesome.
- I’m sure it sounded loud if you’re watching on television, but it was CRAZY loud for San Antonio Silver Stars players Danielle Adams and Becky Hammon.
First Quarter
- House is packed. Great to see for a WNBA All-Star game. Kudos, San Antonio!
- More energy from both teams than I originally thought. Lots of smiles. Looks like they want to put on a show. Love it!
- Swin Cash doin’ it big. Already has six points and three rebounds. MVP??
- Make that eight points and four rebounds for Cash. East up 15-13 over the West at our first timeout. 4:55 left in the first quarter.
- Not much defense being played. Probably better that way. Becky Hammon enters the game for the first time to a thunderous applause.
- Classy move by Brian Agler to give Becky Hammon and Danielle Adams individual intro’s into the game.
- As I’m sure you noticed, Seimone Augustus has a SICK crossover. That’s all I want for Christmas.
- Fun quarter of basketball, right? West on top of the East after one, 36-33. A total of 24 shots were made in that quarter from both teams.
- MVP watch: Swin Cash (8 points, 4 rebounds), Catchings (7 points, 2 rebounds), Cappie (5 points, 4 assists).
Second Quarter
- Diana Taurasi quickly enters into the MVP discussion with a game-high 9 points.
- If you want to learn how to rebound, look at Rebekkah Brunson.
- First timeout in the quarter, West up 50-45 over the East. 5:47 left in the half.
- The West has 16 assists on 20 made baskets so far. #efficient
- Angel McCoughtry just alley-ooped the ball to herself. Looked pretty cool from my angle.
- Lots of great individual plays – Whalen to Taylor, Angel’s oop, Carson’s lay-in, etc.
- At the half, the West leads the East 66-65.
- MVP-watch: Swin Cash (14 points, 7 rebounds), Diana Taurasi (11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Liz Cambage (13 points, 4 rebounds), Angel McCoughtry (7 points, 6 assists), Cappie Pondexter (9 points, 5 assists).
Top 15 Players Announced
Teresa Weatherspoon, Dawn Staley, Cynthia Cooper, Katie Smith, Ticha Penicheiro, Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Becky Hammon, Tamika Catchings, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Lauren Jackson, Yolanda Griffith, and Lisa Leslie.
- Really cool ceremony and a HUGE accomplishment for the league. Congrats, all.
Third Quarter
- New starters in the half for both teams.
- Sloppy start to the second half for both teams. Definitely not as fluid as the first half.
- Crowd erupts for Danielle Adams’s first bucket. Timeout on the floor, East over West 80-79.
- Justin Bieber came on during the timeout. I assume Courtney Vandersloot was happy.
- Both teams shooting exactly 50.8 percent from the field.
- Double-double for Swin Cash – 16 points, 10 rebounds. Gotta be the fave for MVP so far.
- End of the third, all tied at 92.
Fourth Quarter
- MVP ballots passed out. Who am I voting for?
- Every All-Star has scored. That’s pretty cool. All tied up at 96.
- I’d pay to watch Becky Hammon play basketball.
- Tied up at 100 with six minutes left. Both teams shooting exactly 50.6 percent from the floor. This has been fun to watch.
- Both teams with over 30 fast break points. Kind of an irrelevant stat, but still.
- Dude just tripped over the ball carrier in an epic way during an event at the timeout. Hilarious.
- Penny Taylor just got hit in the eye, inadvertently, by Tamika Catchings who was going for a steal. Doesn’t look good.
- Starting to get more competitive now that the game is nearly over. Two-point lead for the East, 107-105, with 3:14 left.
- Rebekkah Brunson is making a strong case for MVP too – 20 points and 9 rebounds.
- But right as I said that, Swin Cash made a lay-up and now has 21 and 11. #MVP
- West and East tied at 109. Maya Moore hits a lay-up to make it 111-109 West. Tina Charles grabs the offensive rebound, hits it, tied at 111. Diana Taurasi hits a jumper to make it 113-111.
- Katie Douglas hits a three, 114-113 East. Then, makes two free-throws to put the East up three with 16.2 seconds left.
- 16.2 seconds left. West ball, down three. Who is this shot going to? My money is on Taurasi.
- Hammon fouled, East had one to give. Taurasi misses the three. Hammon gets the rebound, was fouled but no call, turns the ball over.
- Liz Cambage ties her shoe.
- Cappie hits a lay-up to seal the game. East wins, 118-113. GREAT game.
- Check back for more WNBA All-Star coverage soon. Thanks, all. Enjoyed it.
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