Taurasi, Pondexter named to All-Star team

PHOENIX- Mercury stars and former Olympians Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter have been named to the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game as reserves for the Western Conference. The All-Star Game, the ninth in league history, will be played on July 25 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Taurasi received her fourth invitation to the All-Star Game while Pondexter picks up her third. The backcourt duo for the Mercury will play together in their third-straight All-Star Game.

Taurasi currently leads the WNBA in scoring with 20.7 points per game. In her past appearances in the All-Star Game, Taurasi has averaged 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5 assists in 23 minutes.

Pondexter ranks second in the WNBA in scoring with 20.3 points per game. In her two All-Star appearances she averaged 8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2 assists in 16 minutes.

The West will be coached by San Antonio coach Dan Hughes after winning the Western Conference championship last season. Indiana coach Lin Dunn will lead the East. She was named coach for accumulating the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference for games held through July 15. Bill Laimbeer stepped down as coach of the Easter Conference champion Detroit Shock in June, leaving the coaching position for the All-Star Game vacant as well.