Swoopes wins balloting for WNBA All-Star Game

New York, NY (Basketball News) - Houston Comets star forward Sheryl Swoopes was the leading vote-getter in the WNBA’s 2005 All-Star balloting for the fifth time in her career.

Swoopes, who is one of the WNBA’s nine original players, has been the top vote-getter in five of the league’s six All-Star games (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003). Swoopes has spent her entire WNBA career with the Comets and has led the team to four WNBA Championship titles (1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000).

She has led the West to four WNBA All-Star Game victories. Swoopes, who finished with 108,999 votes, is currently third in the league in scoring (18.2) and steals (2.42).

Indiana’s Tamika Catchings received the second highest votes in the balloting. The star forward and three-time WNBA All-Star is currently leading the league in steals and ranks fifth in assists. Catchings was the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year and is the only player in the WNBA currently in the top 15 in scoring (13.7), steals (2.62), assists (4.9) and rebounds (7.1).

Joining Swoopes in the starting lineup for the Western Conference will be forward Lauren Jackson (Seattle), guards Sue Bird (Seattle) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix) and center Yolanda Griffith (Sacramento).

Catchings, who received 93,842 votes, will be joined by at forward by Swin Cash (Detroit). The Eastern Conference guards will be Dawn Staley (Charlotte) and Becky Hammon (New York) with Ruth Riley (Detroit) at center.

The game is July 9 in Connecticut.