WNBA Eyes Sellout For Sunday's All-Star Game In DC

Mystics officials "are expecting another sellout Sunday" for the WNBA All-Star Game when it returns to Verizon Center, where a crowd of 19,000 attended the '02 event, according to Jim Halley of USA TODAY.  Mystics season-ticket holders were given an extended 60-day period to purchase their regular-season seats for the All-Star Game.  Mystics COO Curtis Symonds said, "The thing that [WNBA President Donna Orender] has been working on that will hopefully grow is television.  We've got to grow television" (USA TODAY, 7/13).  In DC, Argetsinger & Roberts write the All-Star Game "is surrounded by plenty of earnest community events but hardly any paparazzi-worthy festivities."  There is today's "Inspiring Women" lunch honoring U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and tomorrow night's concert featuring Vanessa Carlton, along with Mya's performance at halftime of Sunday's game.  Mystics President & Managing Partner Sheila Johnson: "I would love to throw the biggest party in the world, but I'd have to get approval from the league.  It's just tough" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/13).