The All-Star Game is just around the corner. And as we get ready to watch the best players in the world square off in New York City (4 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC), here's a look at some of the thoughts that come to mind -- the skills and moments that have defined their careers -- when we think about the players on this year's Eastern Conference All-Star roster.

Swin Cash, Detroit Shock
Best trait: She's a hard worker; Cash doesn't just run the floor, she sprints the floor. She is really expanding her game, redefining her position in women's basketball and on her way to becoming a superstar. I love her demeanor and her professionalism.
Favorite memory: As part of UConn's Big Three (with Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams), Cash was undefendable at the 2002 Final Four in San Antonio. They were so dominant and had such a great inside-out attack. Cash had 20 points and 13 rebounds in the final vs. OU as the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Word association: Smart.

Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
Best trait: Catchings is one of the top five players in the world and does things nobody else can do. She's part of a new generation of player. She can post you up, pull up, or finish with a 3. Also, ask anyone in the league -- Catchings is the toughest player to box out. She's just a hard worker.
Favorite memory: One single play doesn't do her justice. Instead, I most remember how she just dominated everybody last season as Indiana fought back to reach the playoffs.
Word association: Future. And let's throw in awesome, strong and stud, too.

Cheryl Ford, Detroit Shock
Best trait: Ford's rebounding has been even bigger than anybody anticipated. She has great hands and great instincts. With the exception of perhaps coach Bill Laimbeer, who saw something in Ford he knew would complement his team, nobody thought Ford would have a rookie season like this. She was an All-American at Louisiana Tech, but she's made quantum leaps since leaving Ruston.
Favorite memory: It has been very touching to see Ford and her father, Karl Malone, reuniting over the years. It's a very heartwarming story.
Word association: Surprise, surprise. We knew she had the potential to be a tremendous player, but an All-Star in her rookie season?.

Becky Hammon, New York
Best trait: It's her supreme confidence, that smile and that little swagger. That confidence carries onto the court, where teamed with her skill and decision-making, Hammon is completely in control of everything she does out there. And she's not only a fan-favorite, but a favorite among her peers, too.
Favorite memory: Watching her work New York's "tap the head." Hammon's so fun to watch off that high screen when she goes right, cuts off that elbow and goes to the basket with that deceptive behind-the-back dribble to get into the lane.
Word association: Smooth.

Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics
Best trait: She's so fantastic around basket. And for her size, Holdsclaw has great elevation -- and she has that spin move down to a science. Holdsclaw owns the baseline.
Favorite memory: When Tennessee went 39-0 to win the 1998 NCAA title, watching the Kellie Jolly-to-Chamique Holdsclaw combination reminded me of John Stockton and Karl Malone. They were just that in sync with each other.
Word association: Rebounding machine.

Shannon Johnson, Connecticut Sun
Best trait: Johnson's personality and leadership make her a great player to have on the court and in the locker room. She's also a scoring point guard who can post you up, but remains a good passer, too. And she just gets after it on both ends.
Favorite memory: It's watching her take people off the dribble while smiling. She has that smile that won't quit.
Word association: Powerful. Very explosive.

Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock
Best trait: Her athleticism. Nolan is so quick off the dribble and gets up and down the floor. She's developing her outside game and can create her own shot and make plays.
Favorite memory: She played in the shadows of Kelly and Coco Miller a lot at Georgia. But Nolan made a shot against phoenix a week ago that was absolutely stood out. She took off inside the foul line on transition, moved the ball side to side, then finger-rolled it up and over for a basket. It was unbelievable, and a little George Gervin. Even the crowd gasped.
Word association: Limitless.

Tari Phillips, New York Liberty
Best trait: Phillips is an undersized post who is not afraid to attack and finds ways to score around the basket. She's also never intimidated, whether she's facing Lisa Leslie or whomever. Phillips just plays hard night after night.
Favorite memory: Phillips, who was playing for Orlando at the time, sang the national anthem before a game against Detroit, which I was coaching, in 1999. She has a gorgeous voice.
Word association: Hard worker.

Nykesha Sales, Connecticut Sun
Best trait: She just does a lot of things well and is already a proven All-Star. I love the way Sales can shoot the ball. She's big and strong, but very smooth with a very good 3-point shot. I'm just waiting for Sales to have the sort of breakout season Chamique Holdsclaw had last season. Sales has that much talent, and is on the verge of showing people what the 2 and 3 positions are all about.
Favorite memory: Her consistency stands out more than one particular play. Sales is such a team player, the type of person who can score 20 points a game if she really wanted to. But she's really good at always making the extra pass and making her teammates better. She doesn't force a lot of shots.
Word association: Solid.

Dawn Staley, Charlotte Sting
Best trait: She's a pure leader, well-respected and just solid as a rock.
Favorite memory: I've seen her make many moves at the college and pro levels, but my favorite was when Staley, who's a 5-foot-6 right-hander, penetrated along the baseline, dribbling with her left hand, and finger-rolled the ball up and over Old Dominion's 6-5 Kelly Lions. At that time, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in the game. It was breathtaking.
Word association: Hall of Famer.

Teresa Weatherspoon, New York
Best trait: Weatherspoon's energy sets her apart. She just brings a lot of motivation. She's also very focused and is an in-your-face defender.
Favorite memory: That's an easy one: watching her hit that buzzer-beating, game-winning, 52-foot shot against Houston in the 1999 WNBA Finals to lift the Liberty to a 68-67 win and force Game 3. You dream about doing that as a kid, fantasize about those kinds of shots. She actually lived it.
Word association: Emotionally tough.

Natalie Williams, Indiana Fever
Best trait: Williams is just so powerful and strong. She's a great finisher, and has always been a great shooter from 15 feet and in.
Favorite memory: Watching her play on the Olympic team. Her teammates, Lisa Leslie and Yolanda Griffith, are very finesse-type players. But Williams just catches it and powers her way through, and was a big part of the U.S. winning gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Word association: Beast on the block.

Nancy Lieberman, an ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage. Contact her at www.nancylieberman.com.