From The Practice Court

This afternoon, WNBA Cares and NIKE celebrated the opening of a newly refurbished basketball court at the Boys and Girls Club on Benning Road in Northeast Washington. In honor of the occasion, the East and West All Stars held their pre-ASG practices on the new court. The BasketCases want to give a huge shoutout to the Washington Mystics, who arranged for their loyal (and long-suffering) 10-year season ticketholders to attend the practices.

Evil Bill and the Eastern Conference All Stars plot their strategy for tomorrow.

Between the conference practices, the players were available to the media.

It was awfully hot in the gym, and the BasketCases were glad to see that Alana Beard was staying well hydrated.


Shock and ASG teammates Kara Braxton and Deanna Nolan.

Former Huskies Lobo and Taurasi get together.

The broadcast team kept a watchful eye on the proceedings.

D.C. homegirl Becky Brunson meets the press, but unfortunately is injured and won't be playing tomorrow. Western Conference Coach Jenny Boucek announced that Sophia Young is flying in to take her place.

Tina Thompson cares.

The Western Conference plotting their strategy against the East.

While the Eastern Conference conference practice more or less resembled an actual practice, the Western Conference practice quickly evolved into an on-court kid-fest, as the players brought dozens of kids down to shoot hoops with them. And some of those kids were pretty good!

Photo Credits: DC BasketCases