FIBA Europe has announced the 24 players and the technical staff to participate in the EuroLeague Women All-Star Game, which will feature Europe taking on the Rest of the World and will take place in Paris, France on March 8th.

The players were selected based on a public vote, collected throughout the month of January on www.fibaeurope.com.

Ann Wauters (CSKA Moscow), Agnieszka Bibrzycka (UMMC Ekaterinburg), Anna Vajda (MiZo Pécs 2010), Celine

Diana Taurasi Spartak Moscow will lead the Rest of the World All-Stars.

Alessandra Santos (Bourges Basket), Lauren Jackson (Spartak M.R. Vidnoje), Candice Dupree (Wisla Can-Pack), Diana Taurasi (Spartak M.R. Vidnoje), and Dominique Canty (Wisla Can-Pack) will be the starting five for the Rest of the World.

Catherine Melain, one of EuroLeague Women's legendary players was added to the Europe team roster as a wild card entry in recognition of her contribution to the women's game in Europe.

The two acting coaches with the best EuroLeague Women records in the Regular Season, Laszlo Ratgeber and Pierre Vincent were selected to coach the two teams. Ratgeber will coach the Rest of the World team while Vincent will be at the helm for Europe. They will be joined by Gundars Vetra of UMMC Ekaterinburg (Europe) and Lubor Blazek of ZVVZ USK Prague (Rest of the World).

The All-Star Weekend will feature a photo opportunity and a number of social activities for the players on Saturday, March 7 before the main game and a three-point shootout on Sunday March 8.

The game's venue is the Stade Pierre de Coubertin at 82, Avenue Georges Lafont in Paris.

Top vote-getters

The Top-5 preferences of the public vote for the Europe team per position were:

Ann Wauters
Amaya Valdemoro
Agnieszka Bibrzycka
Anke De Mondt
Shay Doron

Valdemoro and DeMondt were selected for the All-Star Game but, as a result of a prior agreement between the EuroLeague Women General Assembly and the Spanish and Italian clubs which have domestic league commitments on the day of the event they will not participate.

The Top-5 vote-getters for the Rest of the World were:

Sylvia Fowles
Lauren Jackson
Candice Dupree
Diana Taurasi
Sue Bird

Fowles and Bird fall under the rule which sets a limit of two players per club participating in the All-Star Game. Jackson and Taurasi received more votes and they will be the two players representing Spartak in the All-Star Game.

Three-point shootout

Lauren Jackson is among six players pre-selected to participate in the three-point shootout contest which will be held during the half-time interval of the All-Star Game. She will be joined by Agnieszka Bibrzycka, Celine Dumerc, Evanthia Maltsi, Diana Taurasi and Sheana Mosch.

The Rosters

EUROPE

Coaches: Pierre Vincent (Bourges) & Gundars Vetra (UMMC Ekaterinburg)

Starters:

Ann Wauters-CSKA Moscow-Center
Agnieszka Bibrzycka-UMMC Ekaterinburg-Forward
Anna Vajda-MiZo Pécs 2010-Forward
Celine Dumerc-Bourges Basket-Guard
Shay Doron-Besiktas Cola Turka-Guard

Substitutes:

Maria Stepanova-UMMC Ekaterinburg-Center
Nevriye Yilmaz-Fenerbahce-Center
Anastasiya Veremeenko-Nadezhda-Center
Evanthia Maltsi-ZVVZ USK Prague-Forward
Jelena Milovanovic-MKB Euroleasing-Forward
Rebekka Hammon-CSKA Moscow-Guard
Geraldine Robert-ESB Lille Metropole-Forward
Catherine Melain-Bourges Basket-Guard

REST OF THE WORLD

Coaches: Laszlo Ratgeber (Spartak M.R. Vidnoje) & Lubor Blazek (ZVVZ USK Prague)

Starters:

Alessandra Santos-Bourges Basket-Center
Lauren Jackson-Spartak-Forward
Candice Dupree-Wisla Can-Pack-Forward
Diana Taurasi-Spartak-Guard
Dominique Canty-Wisla Can-Pack-Guard

Substitutes:

Mudju Ngoyisa-Union Hainaut-Center/Forward
Laura Ashley Harper-Besiktas Cola Turka-Center
Crystal Langhorne-TEO Vilnius-Center
Tamika Whitmore-Gambrinus-Forward
Lindsay Whalen-ZVVZ USK Prague-Guard
Alana Beard-LOTOS PKO BP-Guard
Sheana Mosch-Lattes Montpellier-Guard

Three-point shooting contest participants:

Agnieszka Bibrzycka-UMMC Ekaterinburg-Forward
Celine Dumerc-Bourges Basket-Guard
Evanthia Maltsi-ZVVZ USK Prague-Forward
Lauren Jackson-Spartak-Forward
Diana Taurasi-Spartak-Guard
Sheana Mosch-Lattes Montpellier-Guard