Injured Bird among WNBA All-Star starters

Jul 4, 2007, 13:55 GMT

New York, NY - Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird was the leading vote-getter in balloting for the WNBA All-Star Game but will not be able to play in the July 15 game at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

Bird, who was selected as a starter for the fifth time with 128,838 fan votes, is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery at the University of Connecticut Health Center on Friday, July 6. She will then return to Seattle to recuperate and will remain there through the All-Star break.

Following closely behind Bird in the voting were Phoenix Mercury forward Diana Taurasi (124,918) and Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings (124,144).

A three-time All-Star, Taurasi ranks sixth in the WNBA with 18.2 points per game to go along with 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Joining the injured Bird and Taurasi on the Western Conference team are Seattle forward Lauren Jackson, San Antonio guard Becky Hammon and Sacramento center Yolanda Griffith.

Catchings, a five-time All-Star, averages 16.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and headlines the Eastern Conference team. She will be joined by three members of the Detroit Shock, forward Cheryl Ford, guard Deanna Nolan and center Kara Braxton. Catchings' teammate on the Fever -- guard Anna DeForge -- rounds out the Eastern Conference starting five.

All-Star reserves, as selected by head coaches in their respective conferences, will be announced on July 9.

A replacement for Bird will be named by WNBA President Donna Orender after the reserves are announced. Western Conference head coach Jenny Boucek will then select (from among the reserves and replacement players) a player to start in Bird's place.

© 2007 The Sports Network