The midsummer classic that is not tied to baseball provided non-stop excitement from tip-off to buzzer.
After not having a WNBA All Star game in 2008 due to the Olympics, the Western Conference emerged victorious, winning 130-118. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the west, who hadn't won since '05, the last time the affair was played in Connecticut.
Seattle Storm forward Swin Cash was voted the game's most valuable player, courtesy of her 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
"This afternoon was great," says Cash. "I was just really happy to see all of the fans in the stands and anytime you come back to Connecticut, you're always going to get the Connecticut love."
The game was a homecoming for many UCONN greats turned WNBA stars. Cash, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Charde Houston and others all enjoyed a dinner at former coach Geno Auriemma's house.
"We were just eating, hanging out, talking, some reminiscing, some talking about what's going on in our lives today - just a little bit of everything," says Bird. "It was really casual and chill, but it felt like family again and it really was a lot of fun."
But back to Saturday's game, Nicole Powell came off the bench to score 21 points, 15 of them via her 5 three-point shots. Taurasi scored 18, Bird 16, Houston 16, and Becky Hammon 11.
East Dunked It
A back-and-forth game which finished with an NBA point total provided a strong showing for several with the east.
The game's lone slam-dunk came from eastern center Sylvia Fowles in the final minute. She missed her first attempt, but was given the ball back and succeeded, to the cheers of thousands. The basket made Fowles the east's top scorer with 17. Jia Perkins scored 16, Alana Beard 14, while Erika De Souza and Shameka Christon each scored 12.
De Souza tied the west's Cappie Pondexter for the most rebounds in the game, 9.
All Star Fun
The players invited to this year's game thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as none of their gameday statistics counted against season totals. Lots of laughs went on throughout the game. Players danced when the New York Liberty's Timeless Torches provided entertainment during a timeout. Few fouls were called, halftime huddles were brief, Becky Hammon, Lauren Jackson and others even watched Richgirl perform the halftime show from right on the court.
"The whole environment is just so much more relaxed than a regular game," claims west center Lauren Jackson, who started but only played 7 minutes, to avoid further stressing a leg injury. "It's so much more fun."
Jackson scored nine points, via three 3-pointers. She expects to play in her next upcoming regular season game, when her Seattle Storm visit San Antonio on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Phoenix plays at New York, while Sacramento heads to Washington.
