2009 WNBA All-Star Game at Mohegan Sun Arena: West 130, East 118

Charde Houston is introduced to the fans before the start of the WNBA All-Star game at the Mohegan Sun Arena.  (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

Eastern Conference All-Star Shameka Christon, left, and the West’s Sue Bird try to control a loose ball during the first half of the WNBA All-Star game at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday.   (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

Candace Dupree of the East loses her footing on the way to the basket after maneuvering around former UConn players Charde Houston, left, and Sue Bird in the first half.   (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

UConn coach Geno Auriemma congratulates former Husky Swin Cash on being named the MVP of the WNBA All-Star game at the Mohegan Sun Arena. With Cash is friend Chafie Fields. Cash, who plays alongside fellow Husky Sue Bird on the Seattle Storm, had 22 points, six rebounds and four assists in the West’s 130-118 victory.  (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

Sue Bird is congratulated by Katie Smith of the Sun as Bird walks off the court with her Western Conference All-Star teammates -- and former Huskies -- Charde Houston, Swin Cash and Diana Taurasi during the second half of the WNBA All-Star Game at the Mohegan Sun Arena.   (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

The West’s Diana Taurasi, of the Phoenix Mercury, right, is fouled by fellow UConn alum Asjha Jones (15), of the Connecticut Sun, during the second half of the WNBA All-Star Game. Taurasi finished with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists; Jones had six points, six assists and four rebounds.   (JESSICA HILL / AP)

Swin Cash walks off the court holding her MVP award after the WNBA All-Star Game Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Cash had 22 points, six rebounds and four assists in the West’s victory.  (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

Western Conference All-Star Charde Houston puts up a shot over East defender Erika de Souza during the second half. Houston, one of five former UConn Huskies in the game, had 16 points and six rebounds in less than 17 minutes.  (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

Western Conference All-Star Becky Hammon drives under Katie Douglas of the East during the second half. Douglas, who plays for the Connecticut Sun, had 11 points and five assists. Hammon had 11 and six.   (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

UConn women‘s coach Geno Auriemma poses after the game with the five former Huskies named to the WNBA All-Star teams -- from left, Asjha Jones, Swin Cash, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Charde Houston.   (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

All-Star Game MVP Swin Cash drives to the hoop as the East’s Jia Perkins tries to defend during the second half.   (MARK MIRKO / HARTFORD COURANT)

The West’s Becky Hammon, left, of the San Antonio Silver Stars, attempts a shot as the East’s Tamika Catchings (24), of the Indiana Fever, defends in the first half.   (BOB CHILD / AP)

The West’s Becky Hammon (25) fires a pass as the East’s Katie Douglas, of the Connecticut Sun, defends in the first half. Hammon had 11 points and six assists in the West’s 130-118 victory; Douglas finished with 11 and five.   (BOB CHILD / AP)

The West’s Sue Bird, former UConn guard now playing for the Seattle Storm, looks to elude the East’s Katie Douglas of the Connecticut Sun in the first half. Bird finished with 16 points and 10 assists in the West’s victory.  (BOB CHILD / AP)

The East’s Asjha Jones, left, of the Connecticut Sun, goes up for a basket while guarded by the West’s Cappie Pondexter, of the Phoenix Mercury, during the first half.   (JESSICA HILL / AP)

The East Conference’s Sylvia Fowles, left, of the Chicago Sky, is guarded by the West’s Lauren Jackson, of the Seattle Storm, during the first half of Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. Fowles led the East with 17 points -- including a dunk at the end of the game.  (JESSICA HILL / AP)

The Eastern Conference’s Alana Beard, of the Washington Mystics, center, is fouled by Western Conference’s Cappie Pondexter, behind, of the Phoenix Mercury, during the first half.  (JESSICA HILL / AP)

The West’s Charde Houston, of the Minnesota Lynx, left, is guarded by the East’s Erika de Souza, of the Atlanta Dream, during the second half. Houston, a former UConn Husky, finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three steals in less than 17 minutes as the West won, 130-118 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.   (JESSICA HILL / AP)

The East’s Sylvia Fowles, of the Chicago Sky, left, goes up for a basket while guarded by the West’s Diana Taurasi, of the Phoenix Mercury, right. Taurasi, a UConn icon, finished with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes as the West won, 130-118. Fowles led the East with 17 points, including a dunk at the end of the game.  (JESSICA HILL / AP)

The East’s Jia Perkins (11), of the Chicago Sky, shoots as the West’s Swin Cash, of the Seattle Storm, defends in the second half. Cash was named All-Star Game MVP.   (BOB CHILD / AP)

The East’s Sylvia Fowles, of the Chicago Sky, dunks the ball at the end of the second half of the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena. Fowles was high scorer for the East with 17 points, including the dunk.  (BOB CHILD / AP)

Swin Cash, of the Seattle Storm, center, clowns with fellow UConn alum and Western Conference All-Star teammate Diana Taurasi, of the Phoenix Mercury, after the end of the WNBA All-Star Game Saturday. At left is the West’s Tina Thompson, of the Los Angeles Sparks, and her son, Dyllan Thompson Jones, 4. Cash was voted MVP of the game. She and Taurasi combined for 40 points.  (BOB CHILD / AP)

The West’s Nicky Anosike, right, of the Minnesota Lynx, goes up for a shot as the East’s Asjha Joes, of the Connecticut Sun, and the West’s Nicole Powell, of the Sacramento Monarchs, maneuver for rebounding position the first half.  (BOB CHILD / AP)

The West’s Swin Cash, of the Seattle Storm, holds up her MVP trophy after the end of the WNBA All-Star Game. The former Husky had 22 points, six rebounds and four assists.   (BOB CHILD / AP)