Monarch makes All-Star team
(News release courtesy the Sacramento Monarchs.)
NEW YORK, July 22, 2009 – Sacramento Monarchs forward Nicole Powell has been named as a replacement player for the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game WNBA President Donna Orender announced today.
Sacramento Monarch Nicole Powell will replace the injured Lisa Leslie at the WNBA All-Star Game. (Photo courtesy Greg Ashman)
Powell, a sixth-year pro who will be playing in her first All-Star Game, fills the Western Conference roster spot vacated by the Los Angeles Sparks’ Lisa Leslie, who has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury against the Phoenix Mercury in the fifth game of the season.
The third overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft and winner of the league’s Most Improved Player award in 2005 when Sacramento won the WNBA title, Powell currently leads the Monarchs in scoring, averaging a personal career-best 15.1 points per game, and ranks second on the club in rebounds (5.1). She also ranks second overall in the WNBA in three-point fields goals made with 42 (statistics based on games played through Tuesday, July 21).
Powell currently ranks 13th in the League in points per game, first in free throw percentage (1.000) — including a franchise-record 44 consecutive free throws made to date — and second in three-point field goals made (42).
The 2009 WNBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, July 25, at Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ABC, at 12:30 p.m. PDT.
The Monarchs will return to ARCO Arena on Thurs., July 30 versus the San Antonio Silver Stars, at 11:30 a.m. PDT, for their annual Kids Day Game. All fans in attendance will receive a Monarchs Croc Charm Bracelet.
As previously announced, San Antonio Head Coach Dan Hughes will coach the West by virtue of winning the 2008 Western Conference title. The East will be led by Indiana Head Coach Lin Dunn, who was named the coach after the Fever clinched the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference for games through July 15. This method was used because Bill Laimbeer, head coach of the 2008 Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock, stepped down from his post in early June.
As coach of the West squad, Hughes will select from the West roster a player to insert into the starting lineup in place of Leslie, who had earned the honor by a vote of WNBA fans.
2009 WNBA ALL-STAR ROSTERS
EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STARS
Head Coach: Lin Dunn (Indiana Fever)
Alana Beard* Washington Mystics Guard
Tamika Catchings* Indiana Fever Forward
Shameka Christon New York Liberty Forward
Erika de Souza Atlanta Dream Forward/Center
Katie Douglas* Indiana Fever Guard
Candice Dupree* Chicago Sky Forward
Sylvia Fowles* Chicago Sky Center
Asjha Jones Connecticut Sun Forward
Sancho Lyttle Atlanta Dream Forward/Center
Jia Perkins Chicago Sky Guard
Katie Smith Detroit Shock Guard
WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STARS
Head Coach: Dan Hughes (San Antonio)
Nicky Anosike Minnesota Lynx Center
Sue Bird* Seattle Storm Guard
Swin Cash* Seattle Storm Forward
Becky Hammon* San Antonio Silver Stars Guard
Charde Houston Minnesota Lynx Forward
Lauren Jackson* Seattle Storm Forward
Lisa Leslie*# Los Angeles Sparks Center
Cappie Pondexter Phoenix Mercury Guard/Forward
Nicole Powell^ Sacramento Monarchs Forward
Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Guard
Tina Thompson Los Angeles Sparks Forward
Sophia Young San Antonio Silver Stars Forward
* denotes member of the starting lineup, as voted by the fans
# denotes injured and will be unable to participate in the All-Star Game
^ denotes replacement player for injured player
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