Connecticut WNBA All-Star Site Once Again

Further confirmation that Connecticut is fast becoming the capital state of women's basketball:

For the second straight year, the WNBA will be holding its annual All-Star Game on July 10 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

But instead of the usual East vs. West format, the WNBA All-Stars will face off against the U.S. National team, now being coached by University of Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma.

WNBA president Donna Orender called it a "unique twist," but it's actually the second time the U.S. team has participated in the WNBA All-Star Game.

The process for selecting the teams will be largely the same.
Fans will vote for the five starters from the East and the West. Any of the starters voted in who are already on the U.S. team roster will play for the national squad. Those not on the U.S. team will play for the WNBA roster. The coaches will round out the selections for the WNBA team and the pre-selected U.S. team players will round out the national team roster.

For Auriemma, the All-Star matchup is a valuable opportunity to get his team together. The U.S. team will train briefly in the spring between the time that players return from overseas and begin the WNBA schedule.

And following the All-Star game, the next time the U.S. team will reconvene to prepare for the FIBA World Championships in the Czech Republic will be in September following the end of the WNBA season. But those preparations could be hampered by the number of players on the U.S. team that would be participating in the WNBA postseason.

Auriemma said he'll be happy with the day or two that the All-Star game will offer.

"It's an opportunity to showcase our team and allow the national team to spend a little time together," Auriemma said. "And play maybe against the best team we'll play against all year long."

This will be Connecticut's third time hosting the game and the location is a natural fit this season with Auriemma's connection to the national team and the fact that the national team's roster includes more than a half-dozen Huskies players.

Orender indicated that it is the league's plan to keep it as a regular part of the All-Star Game rotation. The All-Star Game has been played in a Western Conference city only once in 13 years.

"We remain open to having our All-Star Game and festivities in the best possible place we can," Orender said. "We want to make it accessible to all of our fans.

"So, we continue to have business discussions because it is a business event, as well. We try to take it as a long-term challenge to see if we can come up with a few cities down the road with Connecticut being part of the rotation on a regular basis."


Free agency period ending

We are nearing the end of the WNBA's free-agency period and the choices are getting very difficult for teams.

The league's salary cap has been reduced significantly in a renegotiation between the WNBA and the player's union, going from the original 2010 figure of $827,000 per team to $775,000.

That will make it tough for some teams, such as the champion Phoenix Mercury, to re-sign their veteran players. The signing period ends Feb. 1 and, with six days remaining, there hasn't been a single announced free-agent signing.

Here are the names on the unrestricted free agent list: Kiesha Brown, Renae Camino (rookie free agent), Dominique Canty, Tamecka Dixon, Kristi Harrower, Lauren Jackson, Kara Lawson, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba
Taj McWilliams, Colleen Miller, Kelly Miller, Anna Montanana, Ticha Penicheiro, Ruth Riley, Ashley Robinson
Katie Smith, Penny Taylor, Nikki Teasley and Le'Coe Willingham.

Jackson has reportedly already agreed to a two-year deal to stay in Seattle, though it hasn't been announced.

Penicheiro has said she would retire now that the Monarchs have folded.

Smith, who played with Detroit before an injury ended her season last year, is among the biggest names out there. Smith, who will turn 36 in June, is in the last couple years of her career, but could definitely still help a team. The same could be said for Taj McWilliams.

Phoenix has unrestricted free agents in Taylor and Willingham, with restricted free agents (who must negotiate with their original teams first) in Tameka Johnson and Cappie Pondexter and not much chance that they will all come back. The Mercury should match any offer than Pondexter gets, but they will likely pay the maximum salary for her, and that likely means somebody on the above list doesn't come back.

The Sparks, meanwhile, should have some cap room with Lisa Leslie's retirement and should be able to make a big signing or two.

There are indications that at least a couple of players scheduled to move to Tulsa with the Shock may not go. Smith decided not to re-sign with the Shock after the move was announced and there are rumors that guard Deanna Nolan will take a year off from the WNBA and will not play in Tulsa. Nolan is listed as a "cored" player for the league, which means she is unable to move to another team.