July 21, 2009

STORRS, Conn. - Five former University of Connecticut women's basketball standouts have been named to the rosters for the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Seattle Storm teammates Sue Bird and Swin Cash were named as starters for the West, while the Minnesota Lynx' Charde Houston and the Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi were selected to the squad as reserves.

Bird and Cash have helped lead Seattle to a 10-6 mark in the first half of the season as Cash has chipped in 12.2 ppg and Bird has notched an average of 11.2.

Taurasi is the WNBA's second-leading scorer at 20.2 points per game and has guided her Phoenix Mercury squad to the best record on the Western Conference at 12-4.

Houston is averaging 14.3 ppg for Minnesota during her second professional season.

The UConn flavor on the East side will be provided by Asjha Jones of the Connecticut Sun, who is currently averaging 16.6 ppg on the year.

The five players UConn boasts on the 2009 WNBA All-Star rosters is by far the most of any collegiate program nationally.

Houston will be making her first WNBA All-Star Game appearance, while the other four players with UConn ties were repeat selections.