DeLisha Milton has called on basketball fans to turn out in force for next month's EuroLeague Women All Star Game, which she believes will be a memorable spectacle showcasing some of the game's greatest talent.

Ros Casares ace Milton will be one of the star attractions for the game on March 8, not least because she will be playing on her home court in Valencia.

The United States international will line up for rest of the world side, alongside the likes of compatriots Katie Douglas and Cappie Pondexter, plus Australian Penny Taylor.

		DeLisha Milton is leading the EuroLeague Women in both scoring and rebounding.

On the European side she will face Ros team-mate Elisa Aguilar, Spain star Amaya Valdemoro and Maria Stepanova, the two-time FIBA Europe Women's Player of the Year.

It is an impressive cast-list, and the 32-year-old Milton admits she feels privileged to be involved in a such a game.

"Whenever you get nominated for any accolade or award it is always a thrill," she told PA Sport.

"The group of people I will be playing with I have played with them on the national team and other places in Europe, it is going to be a great pleasure.

"It is going to be great to play against everyone. It is a fun atmosphere when you have most of the best players from their respective teams in one building, and you have the depth that Europe has to offer, as well as the rest of the world.

"It is going to be great for any basketball fan to come  out and see and be able to admire everyone's talent.

"I would encourage everyone to come to the game because you can really see how much the women's game has evolved over the years," she added.

"The talent level has increased dramatically and you will see a lot of these women's faces in years to come, and it will only improve."

Milton, who currently leads the EuroLeague Women averages in both points (20.3) and rebounding (11.2), is expecting an eagerly-fought contest in the All Star game.

"This is the second year that women have ha

		Last season, De Lisha Milton helped Gambrinus win the EuroLeague Women title.

d an All Star game and I don't think they have an understanding yet of what the atmosphere is supposed to be like," said the experienced center, a gold medallist from the 2000 Olympics.

"It is very competitive, it is supposed to be very laid back, fun and loose, but you can tell that anytime that it's Europe versus whoever, then Europe wants to prevail...or the rest of the world wants to prevail over Europe, so it is going to be an intense battle.

"I'm sure that both teams are going to play hard and both coaches are going to give us a few offenses and probably stress some defense while we are out there, because no-one wants to be the loser."

Although she has plenty of experience in the WNBA with both the Los Angeles Sparks and the Washington Mystics, Milton is becoming something of a veteran campaigner in Europe as well.

Before joining Ros Casares on a two-year contract last summer, Milton played for Czech side Gambrinus Brno, Russian outfit UMMC Ekaterinburg and in Italy with Lavezzini Basket.

Therefore Milton is in a better position than most to comment on the differences between the women's game in America and Europe, which she believes are getting less and less.

"As far as women's basketball in Europe and the US is concerned, the gap is definitely closing," she said.

"They (in Europe) are just as athletic and shoot just as well, the only thing I would say that is different is the difficulties in the positions one through five (in the WNBA).

"In European basketball I would say that the three, four and five positions are pretty physical on a constant basis, but the one and two not so much, and that would be a glaring difference for me."

Overall, Milton is thrilled with her new life in Spain and at Ros Casares, who are flying high both at home and in the EuroLeague Women.

"I really love playing in Europe, I think that is quite obvious as I've been doing this for six-seven years in a row, coming over here to play seven months of the year. I practically feel like I live in Europe!

"It is so beautiful here. Every morning when I wake up and drive to practice the architecture that I get to see on a daily basis it is just so beautiful, and makes me smile and makes me feel glad about the decision that my husband and I made to come here to Valencia."