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NBA PLAYER
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WNBA PLAYER
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TEAM
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Grant Hill
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Jennifer Azzi
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Detroit
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Steve Francis
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Cynthia Cooper
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Houston
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Derek Fisher
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Lisa Leslie
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Los Angeles
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Allan Houston
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Becky Hammon
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New York
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Jason Kidd
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Jennifer Gillom
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Phoenix
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Jason Williams
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Yolanda Griffith
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Sacramento
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Jeff Hornacek
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Natalie Williams
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Utah
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Richard Hamilton
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Chamique Holdsclaw
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Washington
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All-Star 2ball, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
Why you should care: Because women's basketball has hit it big, and it's only fair to let the world see some of the WNBA's finest on the NBA's big weekend. And who wouldn't want to watch Cynthia Cooper, Chamique Holdsclaw and Lisa Leslie in action? Some of the matchups with NBA people are very interesting. In fact, we wager to say that in more than one case, the WNBA player could beat the NBA player. Hmmm....
What to watch for: For those who don't know, this is the second go-round for this event. Houston's Cooper and Clyde Drexler were the winners at Madison Square Garden in 1998. Briefly, here's what occurs: There are eight two-player teams competing. For one minute we see the players shooting, rebounding, dribbling and passing, and eventually shooting from seven specific locations on the court. It is a half-court game where teams score points based on the difficulty of each shot made. The men and women must alternate each shot, and one team plays at a time, and with one NBA basketball. Points range from a deuce for a layup to eight points for a nice NBA three-pointer.
And one more thing: As Derek Fisher pointed out as the best reason why he's excited to go after Kobe Bryant bowed out, there's money on the line. The winners get to split $25,000, second place is worth $10,000 and the other teams get $2,500.
So what are we looking for? Well, in the previous 2ball contest, Utah's Tammi Reiss and Karl Malone had a strategy, which worked in the first round at least. The Mailman tried three-pointers, worth eight points, while Reiss rebounded the ball and fired up closer shots. But Cooper and Drexler won with a more harmonic effort.
Key players/matchups: As ESPN.com women's basketball editor Melanie Jackson has pointed out, there are some very opposite pairings here. For Los Angeles, Leslie is quite a few inches taller than Fisher (and probably better). For Phoenix, Jennifer Gillom is an inside force while Jason Kidd isn't. And Jason Williams is big-time flash, while Sac teammate Yolanda Griffith certainly isn't. Below is Melanie Jackson's more in-depth description of the women's entries in the event, including why Holdsclaw is the best player in the Washington entry.
Who should win: We'll stick with Cooper to defend the title, this time with Rockets rook Steve Francis.
Melanie Jackson breaks down the WNBA players
Jennifer Azzi (5-8 guard, Stanford '90)/Grant Hill: Azzi is best known for leading Stanford to the 1990 national title and for winning the Naismith Award and Wade Trophy after her senior year at Stanford, but she also was one of the co-founders of the now-defunct ABL. Prior to joining the WNBA before last season, she averaged 15 points and 4.9 assists in three seasons for the San Jose Lasers. Azzi was also a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team in Atlanta 1996. Has also played professionally in Sweden, France and Italy, was a two-time All-Pac-10 first team selection (1989-90) and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1990 Final Four. Was the fifth pick overall in the 1999 WNBA Draft.
What strikes me: Both players are unbelievable passers, especially Hill, for his size.
Cynthia Cooper (5-10 guard, USC '86)/Steve Francis: Led Comets to a three-peat, winning titles -- and championship MVP accolades -- in 1997, '98 and '99. Has been Comets' do-it-all player ... loves to "raise the roof." Led WNBA in scoring in 1997 (22.2 ppg) and 1998 (22.7 ppg). Also was first WNBA player to top 1,000 career points. Has been through a tough few years ... both mother and best friend (teammates Kim Perrot) have died from serious illnesses.
What strikes me: Talk about your opposites as far as experience; she's a veteran, MVP; he's a rookie. Both, however, are quick, good dribblers and ball-handlers. Both also are scorers, and flashy as well.
Lisa Leslie (6-5 center, USC '94)/Derek Fisher: Started all eight games in the 1996 Olympics, leading the gold-medal winning U.S. team with a 19.5 scoring average; scored 29 points in gold-medal game against Brazil. Selected the 1993 USA Basketball Player of the Year. In 1999, earned first-ever All-Star Most Valuable Player award after logging 13 points and five rebounds in a West victory. In 1998, led the Sparks in scoring (19.6 average), and was named to the 1998 All-WNBA second team after leading the WNBA in rebounds (10.2 rpg) and double-doubles (16).
What strikes me: Talk about the long and short of it. At 6-5, she's taller than he (6-1) is.
Becky Hammon (5-6 guard, Colorado State '99)/Allan Houston: Was a first-team All-American as a senior as well as a Naismith Award finalist. Three-time WAC Player of the Year (1997-99) and four-time All-WAC first team. Completed her career ranked as the WAC's all-time leading scorer (men or women) with 2,740 points (21.9 ppg), passing Keith Van Horn.
What strikes me: Both players are long-range shooters ...
Jennifer Gillom (6-3 center, Mississippi '86)/Jason Kidd: Averaged 15.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 1999; Another All-Star; helped lead Phoenix to WNBA Championship in 1998. A member of the gold-medal winning 1988 U.S. Olympic Team; the second-leading scorer in Mississippi history with 2,186 career points. Led the SEC in scoring as a senior with 23.4 ppg In 1986, was Mississippi Sportswoman of the Year, Kodak All-American and SEC Female Athlete of the Year.
What strikes me: I have to say it again: opposites. She's another big inside player.
Yolanda Griffith (6-3 forward, Fla. Atlantic)/Jason Williams: The 1999 WNBA Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year All-Star led the league in rebounding (11.3 rpg) and steals (2.52) last season. She ranked second in scoring (18.8 ppg), field goal percentage (.541) and third in blocks (1.86), despite missing several games with a partially torn cartilage in her knee. Was the second pick overall in 1999 draft after playing for the Long Beach Stingrays and Chicago Condors of the ABL, where she was the 1997-98 Defensive Player of the Year.
What strikes me: You've got perhaps the flashiest player in the NBA teamed with a not-so-flashy player. Griffith is more of a tough-it-out in the paint player.
Natalie Williams (6-2 forward, UCLA '92)/Jeff Hornacek: After dominating the ABL, where she averaged 20 points in three seasons with the Portland Power and was named the 1998 Most Valuable Player, Williams averaged 18 points en route to landing a spot on the West team for the 1999 WNBA All-Star game. The 1993-94 Kodak All-American also was named the Pac-10 Athlete of the Decade and Utah's Woman Athlete of the Century.
What strikes me: Again, two opposites. She's a post player who tends to dominate the paint; he's a spot-up shooter who loves the perimeter.
Chamique Holdsclaw (6-2 forward, Tennessee '99)/Richard Hamilton: Touted as perhaps the greatest player in the history of women's college basketball, Holdsclaw led Tennessee to three consecutive NCAA titles (1996-98), including the 1998 championship when the Lady Vols ran the table for a perfect 39-0 record. Is the SEC's all-time leading scorer (man or woman), ranks third on all-time NCAA women's basketball career scoring list, and won the Naismith Award and the AP Player of the Year award in 1998 and 1999. Won 1999 ESPY as Female Athlete of the Year. And after becoming the first three-time first-team All-American in women's college basketball last March, Holdsclaw was the WNBA's top draft pick in 1999. Was voted a starter on the East team in last season's inaugural WNBA All-Star game and voted Rookie of the Year.
What strikes me: Serious argument could be made for which player is better ... at least, in my opinion. Also, I find it kind of funny that they're pitted together, considering one's from Tennessee and the other's from UConn. Great rivalry between their women's teams.
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NBA All-Star Game 2000
NBA All-Star 2000 Viewer's Guide
Sizing up the Slam Dunk competition
Sizing up the Shootout competition
Sizing up the Rookie Challenge
 NBA East: Mutombo no ordinary Hoya
NBA West: Stockton deserves selection
Ratto: Latrell's not coming, if anyone noticed
Lawrence: All-Star game is kid's stuff
All-Star game rosters
All-Star Game history
NBA Power Rankings, Feb. 8
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