Swoopes, Catchings top WNBA All-Star voting

NEW YORK -- Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes and Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings were the top vote-getters for the WNBA All-Star Game in balloting released Thursday.

Swoopes, one of nine remaining players from the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997, garnered the most votes for the fifth time -- receiving 108,999. She will be joined in the Western Conference starting lineup by Sacramento Monarchs center Yolanda Griffith, Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, forward Lauren Jackson and guard Sue Bird of the defending champion Seattle Storm.

Catchings, leading the league in steals and fifth in assists, received 93,842 votes. Other starters for the Eastern Conference are guards Dawn Staley of the Charlotte Sting and Becky Hammon of the New York Liberty, forward Swin Cash and center Ruth Riley of the Detroit Shock.

Cash, recovering from offseason knee surgery, has yet to play this year. She was cleared to resume on-court activities Wednesday, but Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer was still not sure when she will be able to play.

The sixth WNBA All-Star Game will be played July 9 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Last year, the U.S. national team played an All-Star team of remaining WNBA players at Radio City Music Hall at the start of the league's monthlong Olympic break.

Seattle's Anne Donovan will coach the West, and Connecticut's Mike Thibault the East.

The coaches of each conference will vote for the reserves, who will be announced Tuesday.