Katie Douglas takes over in the clutch; East down West’s best 118-113: WNBA All-Star Game Analysis -1
On Saturday night, Katie Douglas scored five points in the final minute, including a go-ahead three-pointer, as the Eastern Conference squeaked past the Western Conference 118-113 in San Antonio.
The Indiana Fever sensation ended the night with 15 points on a 5 for 8 shooting from the field, including 3 for 6 beyond the arc.
However, it was Seattle Storm's Swin Cash, who turned out to be the biggest star of the night. Cash won the MVP honour for the second time in her career after recording a brilliant double-double with a game high 21 points and 12 rebounds. With this achievement, the 31-year-old veteran also became WNBA’s first All-Star MVP from the losing team. The four-time All-Star was also named MVP in 2009.
“I think so many players played well. It could have been anyone,” Cash said after the game.
New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter led East with 17 points, seven assists and two steals. Pondexter, the WNBA Finals MVP in 2007, received a standing ovation when her name was announced in WNBA's Top 15 players of all-time at halftime.
She said at the end of the game, “We got together during practice and the first thing we said was that we wanted to win. Alongside of having fun we wanted to be victorious today and we accomplished that. Good job.”
Connecticut Sun centre Tina Charles scored 15 points on 7 for 9 shooting from the field and grabbed four rebounds for East, who have won three of their previous four All-Star games.
Liberty’s guard forward Essence Carson and Connecticut’s Renee Montgomery came off the bench with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Fever’s Tamika Catchings had 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists while Atlanta Dream’s forward Angel McCoughtry pulled down a team high 10 rebounds in the victory.
Minnesota Lynx’s Rebekkah Brunson contributed 20 points, on a 9-of-13 shooting from the floor, nine rebounds and three steals for the West. Diana Taurasi of Phoenix Mercury and Liz Cambage of Tulsa Sock scored 13 points apiece in the loss. Phoenix Mercury forward Penny Taylor had 11 points and five rebounds while Minnesota’s Maya Moore had 10 points, three assist, three rebounds and three steals.
Seattle’s guard Sue Bird, who is averaging 15.3 points and 5.2 assists per game so far in this season, was limited to just two points on the night.
The East shot 50.5 percent (46 for 91) from the field, 47.1 percent (16 for 34) from three-point range and 83.3 percent (10 for 12) from free throw line. West, on the other hand, shot 48.4 percent (46 for 95) from the floor, 24.1 percent (7 for 29) from beyond the arc and 82.4 percent (14 for 17) from the line.
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