Hot Sun has no stars in East starting lineup

The fans have spoken, and next weekend’s All-Star starting lineups are loaded with Olympians – Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Dawn Staley, Tamika Catchings, Swin Cash and Ruth Riley.

What’s missing is a member of the hottest team in the league.

The Connecticut Sun (12-2), the hosts of the July 9 All-Star game at the Mohegan Sun, are off to their best start in franchise history and have been overpowering opponents with defense and balanced scoring.

The Sun, runner-up to Seattle for the WNBA title last season, lead the league in assists (18.2), field-goal percentage (.462), scoring margin (8.5 points) and 3-point shooting (.410).

Fans vote for All-Stars online and at games. Cash, Detroit’s star forward, still is recovering from off-season knee surgery.

“It bugs me. It’s hard to fathom having the best record and not having an All-Star starter when you have one starter who hasn’t played in a game all year,” Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault said. “I understand it’s the fans voting and I think it’s good we have the fans involved, but I also think it’s too bad they aren’t watching what’s really happening sometimes. I think this will help motivate our players.”

Next week, the league coaches get their chance to fill out the roster for the All-Star reserves, and the Sun likely will have a few players on the bench. Cash’s replacement could open the door for Connecticut’s Nykesha Sales, who is averaging a team-high 15.9 points.

Other possibilities for the Sun are forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who is having a career year at 15.4 points a game and second-year point guard Lindsay Whalen. Her 79 assists are second best in the league.

The coaches cannot vote for their own players. Thibault will coach the East All-Stars and Seattle’s Anne Donovan will guide the West.

Johnson gets positive feedback

Former television executive Sheila Johnson said she’s had nothing but positive feedback since she became part-owner of the Washington Mystics in May.

Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, Johnson also owns stakes in the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards. She is believed to be the first black woman to be a part-owner of three professional sports franchises.

The Mystics played the day after her appointment, and invited her to join their postgame huddle.

“They said they were so happy that someone had stepped up to do this. It’s just been so positive, it’s incredible,” Johnson said.

Team officials say opposing players have also taken the time to congratulate and thank her when they visit the MCI Center.

The Mystics most recently delivered a come-from-behind win Thursday night against the Charlotte Sting, the franchise owned by Johnson’s ex-husband, Robert L. Johnson. Rookie Temeka Johnson and Alana Beard had 14 points apiece for the Mystics, who overcame a 12-point first-half deficit for a 65-50 victory.

The Johnsons co-founded BET and divorced in 2002.

“It’s not awkward,” Sheila Johnson said. “It think it’s pretty unique to have two teams in one family, even though we’re not together. He has a lot to offer, and I have a heck of a lot to offer.”

Shock rally from the inside out

The biggest comeback in league history started on the inside.

Down 25 in the first half to the Los Angeles Sparks on June 25, the Detroit Shock went after the Sparks’ post players and the rally was on. Sparks center Lisa Leslie picked up her fifth foul with 16 minutes to play and Detroit went on to win 79-73.

“If you can get her in foul trouble and force her to sit on the bench, that’s a tremendous advantage,” Shock center Ruth Riley said.

Riley, the MVP of Detroit’s 2003 WNBA Finals win over Los Angeles, had 11 points before she fouled out. The Shock broke their own league record, set June 9, 2004, when they rallied from 23 down against Indiana.

“We’ve been hanging our heads a little bit too much. We finally just had to take a stand, and we did,” Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. “They dug in and pulled themselves together, and it was an unbelievable comeback.”

Silver Stars slowly shining

After a rocky 1-6 start to the season, the San Antonio Silver Stars (4-12) are slowly coming together.

In their 81-69 win over the defending champion Seattle Storm on Thursday, the Silver Stars had all five starters in double figures and set a season high for points. It also marked the third time in the last four games that San Antonio had limited an opponent to 40 percent shooting or worse.

Guard Dalma Ivanyi, who scored a career-high 14 points in just her sixth start, helped limit Seattle guard Sue Bird to eight points.

“I wanted to come out and make it hard for her to catch the basketball,” Ivanyi said.

Saturday’s games

Comets 75, Sting 65: At Houston, Sheryl Swoopes scored 16 points as Houston beat slumping Charlotte for its fourth straight win. Dominique Canty had 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, Janeth Arcain added 12 and Michelle Snow had 11 for Houston (8-5). Tangela Smith scored 19 points and Alison Feaster added 17 for the last-place Sting (2-12).

Silver Stars 69, Liberty 57: At San Antonio, Marie Ferdinand scored 17 points for San Antonio, which used a 24-2 run in the final seven minutes for the win. Ferdinand scored 11 second-half points for the Silver Stars (5-12), winners of two straight. Becky Hammon had 21 points and Elena Baranova had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Liberty (5-7), losers of three straight.

Sparks 86, Mercury 63: At Los Angeles, Lisa Leslie came within an assist of her second career triple-double, and WNBA leading scorer Chamique Holdsclaw added 19 points as Los Angeles (9-6) coasted to a win over Phoenix. Leslie finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Kamila Vodichkova led the Mercury (3-11) with 16 points.