Catchings leads WNBA All-Star voting
NEW YORK — Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings, a former Illinois high school star at Stevenson, leads all players after early returns of the 2011 WNBA All-Star balloting.
The 2011 game will be broadcast at 2:30 p.m. July 23 on ABC. It is the first time the San Antonio Silver Stars are hosting the midseason showcase.
In addition to Catchings (19,943), leading vote-getters by position in the Eastern Conference include guards Cappie Pondexter of the New York Liberty (11,859) and Katie Douglas of the Indiana Fever (11,217), forward Angel McCoughtry of the Atlanta Dream (8,912) and center Tina Charles of the Connecticut Sun (9,837).
Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird tops the Western Conference with 15,203 votes. Joining Bird as fan favorites in the West are guards Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury (13,371) and Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Silver Stars (9,204), in addition to forwards Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx (12,762) and Swin Cash of the Storm (8,797), and center Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks (12,626). Parker, a former star at Naperville Central, is out four to six weeks with a knee injury and will not play.
For the Chicago Sky, center Sylvia Fowles is second behind Tina Charles, and rookie guard Courtney Vandersloot is fourth in Eastern Conference voting, with Epiphanny Prince in seventh among guards.
Eastern Conference votes
Forwards: Tamika Catchings (Ind) 19,943; Angel McCoughtry (Atl) 8,912; Asjha Jones (Conn) 5,389; Crystal Langhorne (Wash) 4,653; Plenette Pierson (NY) 3,829; Tangela Smith (Ind) 3,776; Michelle Snow (Chi) 3,366; Nicole Powell (NY) 3,214; Marissa Coleman (Wash) 2,528; Tan White (Conn) 2,335
Centers: Tina Charles (Conn) 9,837; Sylvia Fowles (Chi) 9,103; Nicky Anosike (Wash) 4,287; Tammy Sutton-Brown (Ind) 2,579
Guards: Cappie Pondexter (NY) 11,859; Katie Douglas (Ind) 11,217; Renee Montgomery (Conn) 7,028; Courtney Vandersloot (Chi) 6,276; Kara Lawson (Conn) 4,961; Alana Beard (Wash) 3,188; Epiphanny Prince (Chi) 2,891; Iziane Castro Marques (Atl) 2,699; Lindsey Harding (Atl) 2,590; Briann January (Ind) 2,576; Essence Carson (NY) 2,488; Kelly Miller (Wash) 2,274
Western Conference votes
Forwards: Maya Moore (Minn) 12,762; Swin Cash (Sea) 8,797; Tina Thompson (LA) 7,072; Rebekkah Brunson (Minn) 6,886; Penny Taylor (Phx) 5,512; Sophia Young (SA) 5,451; Candice Dupree (Phx) 5,368; Camille Little (Sea) 3,509; Ruth Riley (SA) 2,989; Sheryl Swoopes (Tul) 2,983; DeLisha Milton-Jones (LA) 2,500
Centers: Candace Parker (LA) 12,626; Lauren Jackson (Sea) 8,693; Taj McWilliams-Franklin (Minn) 3,963; Jayne Appel (SA) 2,710; Elizabeth Cambage (Tul) 2,265
Guards: Sue Bird (Sea) 15,203; Diana Taurasi (Phx) 13,371; Becky Hammon (SA) 9,204; Seimone Augustus (Minn) 6,232; Lindsay Whalen (Minn) 4,311; Kristi Toliver (LA) 3,312; Ivory Latta (Tul) 3,221; Ticha Penicheiro (LA) 2,883; Jia Perkins (SA) 2,576