For the first time, the Connnecticut Sun the East won the All-Star Game, and decisively too. Katie Douglas was, rightly, MVP. Lindsay dished and drove dramatically (but got stripped a few times), Margo blocked shots, and Taj showed her nose for the ball; Douglas and Seimone led the scoring with 16 apiece.

The East actually worked to keep the West out of the paint. Douglas: "I think the West was surprised by the defensive effort"; for her and her teammates, "it kind of felt like a regular game."

It wasn't quite last year's party, but almost everyone-- fans and players-- looked like they had fun. The let's-not-get-too-physical ASG atmosphere was kind to Margo, whom opponents normally body and shove, but unkind to Griffith, who shines amid hard-nosed play. The league's Jeff Dengate, doing his best Kevin Pelton impression, liveblogged the game.

Best on-court moment: Cappie's behind-the-back, rookie-to-rookie second-quarter assist to Seimone. The New York Times mistook Augustus for Pondexter-- hey, at least they covered the game.

Silliest on-court moment: Taurasi's not-quite-there attempt to dunk in the final minute. (Michelle Snow then completed a reverse dunk.) Taurasi: "I saw a clear lane to the basket and decided it was my turn to dunk, and the rim said 'No, it's not your turn.'"

Best off-court moment: Taj, in the pre-game intros, sending love to her husband Reggie, who may still be serving in Iraq.

Snarkiest miked-up moment: Dawn Staley complaining that posts-- or perhaps one post in particular-- never pass. (Staley got matched up a few times with Dupree, whom she had coached at Temple: Dupree is, let's say, a bit taller.)

Best trivia: Katie Smith has still never lost an ASG. Dawn Staley has never won.

Best minor decision: the new orange All-Star uniforms, with each player's actual team symbol on the back. (The West/ "away" unis do look a bit like the Sting's, though.)

Worst minor decision: honoring the All-Decade team by bringing them all out onto the court at halftime, rather than letting those playing in the ASG stay in the lockerroom, catch their breaths, and learn what the coaches wanted for the second half.

Most unexpected guest: former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, whose personal assistant played alongside Catch in high school. Albright gave a serious lunchtime talk; Voepel was there.

The Garden looked full-- and raucous-- on television, despite the closure of the upper deck, and despite flood warnings and storms. Announced 12K attendance, while lower than previous MSG ASGs (sellouts at 18K in '99 and '03), exceeded last year's sellout at the casino.

UPDATE: if you missed Rebecca's pre-ASG blogging, it's here. Apparently, just as fish make schools and crows make murders, three or more fans constitute an "obsession," three or more referees are a "confusion," and three or more players a lineup. (Sounds right to me.)