McCoughtry, Schimmel Elected as Starters for WNBA All-Star Game

ATLANTA, July 8, 2014 -

The Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Dream placed two players in the starting lineup for the 2014 Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star game, as guard/forward Angel McCoughtry and rookie guard Shoni Schimmel were named to the squad late Tuesday by the league office. The WNBA All-Star game will be nationally broadcast on ESPN, Saturday, July 19, at 3:30 p.m. ET from Phoenix, Ariz.

The starting lineups were determined by fan voting, with Schimmel leading all East guards with 25, 601 votes, which third among all WNBA players overall. McCoughtry ranked second among East forwards with 17,562 votes, trailing only Chicago's Elena Delle Donne, who led all Eastern Conference players with 26,129 votes. It marks the third consecutive time McCoughtry has been voted to start the All-Star game.

The Dream, which leads the Eastern Conference by 4.5 games with a 13-5 record after an 83-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, will have two starters at the All-Star game for the first time in franchise history.

Entering Tuesday night's game, McCoughtry ranked second in the WNBA in steals (2.3), fourth in scoring (19.6), tied for eighth in free throw percentage (.864) and 11th in assists (4.2). She was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played June 16-22, and has been nominated for an ESPY for Best WNBA Player.

Schimmel burst onto the scene, setting a WNBA record for most assists in her first four games in the league with 37. She entered Tuesday night's game ranked 15th in the WNBA in assists (3.9) and eighth among rookies in scoring (8.1). She has posted seven double-figure scoring games this season, and leads the Dream with 25 three-point baskets.

Joining McCoughtry and Schimmel in the East starting lineup will be Delle Donne, Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings (13,939 votes) and New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter (10,104).

The East squad will also feature the Dream coaching staff by virtue of the Dream posting the East's best record through games played June 29. Head coach Michael Cooper will be joined by Assistant Coaches Karleen Thompson and Teresa Edwards, as well as Head Athletic Trainer Michael Douglas. Minnesota's Cheryl Reeve will head the West coaching staff after leading her team to the WNBA Championship last season.

The Western Conference starters will include Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore, who topped all players with 28,389 votes, Los Angeles Sparks center Candace Parker (23,555) and Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (18,432) in the frontcourt, while Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (19,404) and Tulsa Shock guard Skylar Diggins (17,937) while comprise the backcourt.

The 12 WNBA head coaches will select the reserves, while will be announced Tuesday, July 15, during ESPN2's nationally-televised game between the Sparks and Fever. Replacement players for injured players will be named by WNBA President Laurel Richie.

The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream is in its seventh season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Dream has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, including conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010. Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2014 season can be purchased by calling (877) 977-7729 or visiting www.AtlantaDream.net. The next home game is scheduled for Sunday, July 13, against the Chicago Sky at 6:00 p.m. from Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion. The complete 2014 schedule can be found at www.wnba.com/dream/schedule.