If the fan balloting for the WNBA All-Star game ended today, five former UConn stars would earn starting spots.

In the West, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi are the top two vote-getters among Western Conference guards while Maya Moore and Swin Cash are the top two among Western Conference forwards. Tina Charles is the only ex-Husky in position to earn a starting spot as she is the top choice among Eastern Conference centers.

When the WNBA released the early returns in the fan balloting, Tamika Catchings leads all players with 19,943 votes while Bird's 15,203 is tops among Western Conference players. Of the 15 players who have received at least 7,000 votes, six played at UConn.

Here are the top 15 players
1. Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) 19,943
2. Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) 15,203
3. Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) 13,371
4. Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) 12,762
5. Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) 12,626
6. Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty) 11,859
7. Katie Douglas (Indiana Fever) 11,217
8. Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun) 9,837
9. Becky Hammon (San Antonio) 9,204
10. Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) 9,103
11. Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream) 8,912
12. Swin Cash (Seattle Storm) 8,797
13. Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm) 8,693
14. Tina Thompson (Los Angeles Sparks) 7,072
15. Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun) 7,028


Voting will run through July 10 and votes can be cast at www.wnba.com. The top vote-getters at each position will earn starting spots for the July 23 all-star game in San Antonio, Tex.

Here are the results
EASTERN CONFERENCE -- EARLY RETURNS LEADERS
Forwards: Tamika Catchings (Ind) 19,943; Angel McCoughtry (Atl) 8,912; Asjha Jones (Conn) 5,389; Crystal Langhorne (Wash) 4,653; Plenette Pierson (NY) 3,829; Tangela Smith (Ind) 3,776; Michelle Snow (Chi) 3,366; Nicole Powell (NY) 3,214; Marissa Coleman (Wash) 2,528; Tan White (Conn) 2,335

Centers: Tina Charles (Conn) 9,837; Sylvia Fowles (Chi) 9,103; Nicky Anosike (Wash) 4,287; Tammy Sutton-Brown (Ind) 2,579

Guards: Cappie Pondexter (NY) 11,859; Katie Douglas (Ind) 11,217; Renee Montgomery (Conn) 7,028; Courtney Vandersloot (Chi) 6,276; Kara Lawson (Conn) 4,961; Alana Beard (Wash) 3,188; Epiphanny Prince (Chi) 2,891; Iziane Castro Marques (Atl) 2,699; Lindsey Harding (Atl) 2,590; Briann January (Ind) 2,576; Essence Carson (NY) 2,488; Kelly Miller (Wash) 2,274


WESTERN CONFERENCE -- EARLY RETURNS LEADERS
Forwards: Maya Moore (Minn) 12,762; Swin Cash (Sea) 8,797; Tina Thompson (LA) 7,072; Rebekkah Brunson (Minn) 6,886; Penny Taylor (Phx) 5,512; Sophia Young (SA) 5,451; Candice Dupree (Phx) 5,368; Camille Little (Sea) 3,509; Ruth Riley (SA) 2,989; Sheryl Swoopes (Tul) 2,983; Delisha Milton-Jones (LA) 2,500

Centers: Candace Parker (LA) 12,626; Lauren Jackson (Sea) 8,693; Taj McWilliams-Franklin (Minn) 3,963; Jayne Appel (SA) 2,710; Elizabeth Cambage (Tul) 2,265

Guards: Sue Bird (Sea) 15,203; Diana Taurasi (Phx) 13,371; Becky Hammon (SA) 9,204; Seimone Augustus (Minn) 6,232; Lindsay Whalen (Minn) 4,311; Kristi Toliver (LA) 3,312; Ivory Latta (Tul) 3,221; Ticha Penicheiro (LA) 2,883; Jia Perkins (SA) 2,576

MONTENEGRO TEEN IMPRESSIVE AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
When UConn coach Geno Auriemma met with members of the media during a break in his golf tournament on Monday and when he talked about his impending trip to Poland to check out the final three days of the EuroBasket Championships, Auriemma said "I hope there’s a 17 year old playing over there. But that never happens. You never find those kids out there."

Well ...

There is actually a 17-year-old playing for Montenegro and not only is Ana Turcinovic playing but she is opening some eyes with her play. Although Montenegro lost to Turkey 56-44 in Thursday's quarterfinals, the 6-foot-2 Turcinovic finished with 10 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes. It was the third double-figure scoring effort for Turcinovic who is averaging 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16 minutes. I'm not suggesting that Auriemma will be heading home with a commitment from Turcinovic but I'd have to think there aren't too many 17 year olds who could hold up against the very best players in Europe.