— WNBA All-Star Balloting 2015 presented by Boost Mobile Closes at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 9 —

— Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015 Set for Saturday, July 25, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC –

NEW YORK, July 2, 2015 – Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock and Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky lead their respective conferences after early returns of WNBA All-Star Balloting 2015 presented by Boost Mobile. Diggins, a 2014 All-Star, has 11,099 votes compared with 10,589 for Delle Donne, who last year paced all Eastern Conference players in the balloting.

Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015, featuring the Eastern Conference All-Stars against the Western Conference All-Stars at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., will be nationally televised by ABC on Saturday, July 25, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Joining Diggins as the top vote-getters among Western Conference backcourt players is Seimone Augustus of the Minnesota Lynx (5,518). The West frontcourt is led by 2014 Samsung WNBA MVP Maya Moore of Minnesota (7,783), 2014 Samsung WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury (3,656), and Griner’s teammate from the defending champion Mercury, four-time All-Star Candice Dupree (3,410).

In addition to Delle Donne, the top vote-getter among Eastern Conference guards is the Atlanta Dream’s Shoni Schimmel, MVP of Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2014 (4,419). Leading the way among frontcourt players in the East are 2011 league MVP Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever (5,558), three-time WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry of Atlanta (4,225), and 2012 MVP Tina Charles of the New York Liberty (3,359).

The 2015 Boost Mobile All-Star starters will be announced during an ESPN telecast of “SportsCenter” on Tuesday, July 14. Reserves will be announced on Tuesday, July 21, during ESPN2’s game telecast of the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks (tip-off at 11 p.m. ET). In the case of players who are unable to play due to injury – such as Diggins, who recently sustained a season-ending injury – replacement players will be named by WNBA President Laurel J. Richie.  Any changes to the starting lineup necessitated by injury will be made by the head coach of the respective All-Star team.

Fans around the world can vote daily for their favorite WNBA players to become starters in the Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star Game 2015. Votes can be cast on multiple digital platforms, including WNBA.com, the WNBA App, Twitter and Facebook.

On WNBA.com, the program is highly integrated, with voting options available on the player index and player file pages, in addition to prominent branding of the campaign throughout the site as well as on all 12 individual WNBA team sites.

Also this year, Twitter and Facebook voting has been expanded to 10 unique player votes per day (previously one per day).  Fans may cast votes on Facebook and Twitter using the designated hashtag #wnbaballot and the player’s first and last name, or Twitter handle (Twitter only). Fans can also add a team-specific hashtag to Twitter votes to show team spirit.  Voters can submit one player name per post and create up to 10 valid posts – each for a different WNBA player – per Twitter or Facebook account per day.

As an incentive for fans to vote on Twitter, the WNBA is offering a Twitter sweepstakes with a chance to win prizes such as WNBAStore.com gift cards and Boost Mobile smartphones.  Follow @WNBA on Twitter for more information.

Individual tickets for Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015 start at just $16 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by dialing 800-745-3000 or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.

WNBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING 2015 PRESENTED BY BOOST MOBILE

EASTERN CONFERENCE — EARLY RETURNS LEADERS

Backcourt: Elena Delle Donne (Chi) 10,589; Shoni Schimmel (Atl) 4,419; Cappie Pondexter (Chi) 2,862; Courtney Vandersloot (Chi) 2,301; Ivory Latta (Was) 2,222; Alex Bentley (Con) 1,896; Marissa Coleman (Ind) 1,404; Allie Quigley (Chi) 1,326; Briann January (Ind) 1,289; Brittany Boyd (NY) 1,191; Kara Lawson (Was) 1,162; Tiffany Hayes (Atl) 1,118 

Frontcourt: Frontcourt: Tamika Catchings (Ind) 5,558; Angel McCoughtry (Atl) 4,225; Tina Charles (NY) 3,359; Emma Meesseman (Was) 2,612; Natalie Achonwa (Ind) 1,948; Stefanie Dolson (Was) 1,727; Erika de Souza (Atl) 1,530; Swin Cash (NY) 1,402; Kelsey Bone (Con) 1,277; Chiney Ogwumike (Con) 1,189; Kiah Stokes (NY) 1,142; Alyssa Thomas (Con) 1,124

WESTERN CONFERENCE — EARLY RETURNS LEADERS

Backcourt: Skylar Diggins (Tul) 11,099; Seimone Augustus (Min) 5,518; Sue Bird (Sea) 4,693; Lindsay Whalen (Min) 4,091; DeWanna Bonner (Phx) 3,438; Kayla McBride (SA) 1,994; Odyssey Sims (Tul) 1,891; Jewell Loyd (Sea) 1,622 

Frontcourt: Frontcourt: Maya Moore (Min) 7,783; Brittney Griner (Phx) 3,656; Candice Dupree (Phx) 3,410; Ramu Tokashiki (Sea) 2,378; Nneka Ogwumike (LA) 2,337; Rebekkah Brunson (Min) 2,139; Courtney Paris (Tul) 1,508; Plenette Pierson (Tul) 1,190; Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Sea) 1,152

About Boost Mobile
Established in 2002, Boost Mobile, part of the Sprint Prepaid Group, redefines value for wireless consumers with more data for less and no long-term commitment to a subscription contract. Operating on the Nationwide Sprint 3G Network for data and the Nationwide Sprint Network for voice services, both reaching more than 281 million people respectively, as well as the nationwide Sprint 4G LTE Network, which reaches more than 280 million people. Its award-winning customer service has been recognized more than eight times. Learn more about Boost Mobile online on Facebook, Google+, Instagram and Twitter.

About the WNBA
The WNBA – which features 12 teams and is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world – is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity.  The league, which counts Boost Mobile as its leaguewide marquee partner, tipped off its 19^th season on June 5, 2015.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education.  For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.