No All-Star Game Yet, But That’s Not to Say WNBA Lacks Stars

OK, we got first.

First all-star team, that is.

Never mind that the Women’s NBA won’t hold an all-star game in its first season. After seeing each of the eight teams, here’s an early all-WNBA team:

Forward--Jennifer Gillom, Phoenix Mercury. As consistent in the paint as any in the league. She has that knack of pushing players in the direction they don’t want to go. Forward--Wendy Palmer, Utah Starzz. Solid, steady--in the top five in scoring and rebounding. Almost single-handedly put the game out of reach when Utah beat the Sparks at home, 102-89.

Center--Lisa Leslie, Sparks. The complete package--offense, defense, outstanding high-post passer, shot blocker and surprisingly physical in traffic. In a shooting slump, however.

Guard--Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets. In command of her team. Ranks high in assists, steals, scoring. At 34, she’s a marvel, playing as if her best basketball is still ahead of her.

Guard--Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, Sacramento Monarchs. The easiest call. The favorite to win the scoring title. No one in the league plays harder.

Second team: Forwards Janice Lawrence Braxton of the Cleveland Rockers and Rebecca Lobo of the New York Liberty, center Elena Baranova of Utah and guards Michelle Timms of Phoenix and Teresa Weatherspoon of New York.

Early MVP--Cooper.

Top coach so far: Nancy Darsch, New York.

One thought: If all WNBA and American Basketball League players were to become free agents today and put in a draft pool, who would be the first choice in a merged league?

Answer: Natalie Williams, of the ABL’s Portland Power.

No player in either league, has even approached her 12.5 rebounds per game of last season. No one else in either league, in fact, has reached double digits.

HE’S A CARD

Nancy Lieberman-Cline of Phoenix has a 3-year-old son, T.J., who carries his collection of about 100 NBA trading cards everywhere.

At home not long ago, as his parents waited in the car to take him to a fast-food restaurant, T.J. ran about the house looking for his misplaced cards.

“T.J., let’s go!” his mother shouted from the car.

Then, she swears, T.J. responded from the doorway: “I am not leaving the house without my Randy Pfund card!”

FILLING THE SEATS

A word about the Sparks’ Forum crowd counts: Subtract 1,000 to 1,500 from the announced number.

Club President Johnny Buss says the club counts all 2,200 Forum Senate ticket holders, whether they show up or not, because the Sparks share in that revenue. Senate ticket holders have admission to any Forum event.

The club gives away about 1,500 complimentary tickets for each game, and Buss says the team counts half of those, since that’s roughly how many who are given freebies actually show up.

A league spokesman said teams give away, on average, almost 1,000 tickets per game.

Phoenix leads the WNBA in announced average home attendance, 13,908. New York is second at 12,174, and L.A. fifth, 8,503.

SHOWING SOME ATTITUDE

ABL co-founder Ann Cribbs couldn’t resist this jab at the WNBA’s struggling Sparks, during the StingRays’ news conference to announce new Coach Maura McHugh:

“I can assure you of one thing--this will be the best women’s basketball team in Southern California.”

QUICK CUTS

Leslie clings to the league rebounding lead, 8.8 per game. . . . Spark guard Penny Toler is the WNBA free-throw leader, 92%. . . . Sheryl Swoopes of Houston was practicing lightly two weeks after the birth of her son and is looking to play by Aug. 1. . . . UCLA sophomore Maylana Martin scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the United States to the Junior Worlds Championship on Monday at Natal, Brazil. The United States beat Australia, 78-74. Martin was the leading U.S. scorer in the seven-game tournament at 17.9 points per game.