ABC’s Coverage of WNBA All-Star Game Saturday Focuses on Extensive In-game Access

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ABC’s Coverage of WNBA All-Star Game Saturday Focuses on Extensive In-game Access

ESPN3 & espnW.com to Provide Stream of Friday Practices

WNBA AS LogoThe Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star Game 2013 will showcase the league’s top players with several live-access elements throughout the ABC broadcast on Saturday, July 27, at 3:30 p.m. Ryan Ruocco will have the call of the game with analyst Rebecca Lobo and reporter Holly Rowe.

The 2013 event marks the third All-Star Game hosted by the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., which also served as the home for the event in 2005 and 2009, as well as the “Stars at the Sun” matchup between league all-stars and Team USA in 2010.

ESPN3 – and via the ESPN3 player on espnW.com – will stream team practices on Friday, July 26, from 3-5 p.m. Coverage will include audio from microphones worn by the two All-Star head coaches. SportsCenter will provide live look-ins from the practices.

WNBA All-Star Game Highlights
In-game Access

ABC will have extensive access to the All-Star Game participants.

  • Live interviews with WNBA players and coaches before and after the game, as well as coming in and out of halftime
  • Rowe will have in-game access to both the Eastern and Western Conference benches, conducting interviews with players
  • Studio show anchor Randy Scott will have live access to players in the locker rooms during halftime
  • On-court camera access during the action, specifically free throws and dead ball situations

Ref Cam
The Ref Cam will appear during the WNBA All-Star Game, after a successful debut during the June 8 ABC broadcast of the Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever. Grabbing a unique perspective, the eye-level camera allows viewers to virtually be on the court as the referee’s first-person perspective is incorporated into the live broadcast in real time.

  • It is a wireless high definition, mini point of view camera paired with an HD mini transmitter
  • The fully remote system includes a vest, which will be worn underneath the official’s shirt, and contains the transmitter and batteries that provide the power and video

Live Microphones

  • A total of four players – one per half from each team
  • Head coaches of each team will also wear a live microphone

espnW
espnW will have in-depth coverage from the WNBA All-Star Game. Highlights:

  • Kate Fagan and Graham Hays will be reporting on site
  • Mechelle Voepel and Michelle Smith will provide midseason reports, which include team-by-team grades and picks for the WNBA midseason awards, including MVP
  • Lobo’s five things she’s looking forward to in Saturday’s All-Star Game
  • Live chat with espnW writers throughout the game

Chicago Sky guard/forward Elena Delle Donne led all players with 35,646 votes following final returns of the 2013 WNBA All-Star Balloting presented by Boost Mobile. Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker topped the Western Conference and ranked second overall with 33,810 votes. Delle Donne, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2013 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm, is the first WNBA rookie ever to earn the top spot.

Eastern Conference Starters Western Conference Starters
Cappie Pondexter, Guard (New York Liberty) Diana Taurasi, Guard (Phoenix Mercury)
Epiphanny Prince, Guard (Chicago Sky) Seimone Augustus, Guard (Minnesota Lynx)
Elena Delle Donne, Frontcourt (Chicago Sky) Candace Parker, Frontcourt (Los Angeles Sparks)
Tamika Catchings, Frontcourt (Indiana Fever) Maya Moore, Frontcourt (Minnesota Lynx)
Angel McCoughtry, Frontcourt (Atlanta Dream) Brittney Griner, Frontcourt (Phoenix Mercury)
Eastern Conference Reserves Western Conference Reserves
Tina Charles, Frontcourt (Connecticut Sun) Rebekkah Brunson, Frontcourt (Minnesota Lynx)
Sylvia Fowles, Frontcourt (Chicago Sky) Glory Johnson, Frontcourt (Tulsa Shock)
Alison Hightower, Guard (Connecticut Sun) Nneka Ogwumike, Frontcourt (Los Angeles Sparks)
Crystal Langhorne, Frontcourt (Washington Mystics) Danielle Robinson, Guard (San Antonio Silver Stars)
Ivory Latta, Guard (Washington Mystics) Kristi Toliver, Guard (Los Angeles Sparks)
Shavonte Zellous, Guard (Indiana Fever) Lindsay Whalen, Guard (Minnesota Lynx)

By virtue of winning their respective conference titles last season, Indiana head coach Lin Dunn will coach the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference will be led by Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve.

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Rachel Margolis Siegal

A part of the Internal Communications team at ESPN, I began with the network in 2010 as part of the College Sports PR team. Always an avid sports fan and not an athlete – I grew up a huge fan of the Hartford Whalers, while also watching my brother compete at different levels. I became the manager of several high school sports teams and continued that hobby into college. While at Quinnipiac, I worked in the Sports Information Department, which led me to a summer internship at the New Haven Ravens, a AA baseball team, and an eventual job with the Athletic Communications Department at the University of Connecticut. After my five-year stint at Connecticut, I spent six years as Director of Communications at the BIG EAST Conference in Providence, R.I. before joining ESPN.
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