By Chris Wilson

CANBERRA point guard Kristen Veal was named in her first WNBL All-Star team yesterday, but she said the personal accolade did not match the feeling of another WNBL title with the Capitals.

Veal and team-mate Lauren Jackson had more than one reason to celebrate yesterday, both named in the 2002-03 WNBL All-Star Five.

It is the fifth consecutive season Jackson has been named in the honorary team, which also included Dandenong Rangers guard Carly Wilson, Sydney Flames forward Shelley Hammonds and Townsville Fire forward Natalie Porter.

Jackson also took out the season's statistical awards for top scorer (27.9 per game) and top rebounder (12.7 per game), making the Capitals' centre hot favourite for her third most valuable player award.

But for Veal, who led the league in assists (5.5 per game), it was a breakthrough season.

She missed last year's grand final because of injury and she was desperate to win yesterday's decider.

"In the end it [the All-Star selection] is a personal accolade, but winning is what I wanted and that's what we got," Veal said.

Veal and Jackson have been a common equation in the past five WNBL grand finals. They won their first title together with the Australian Institute of Sport in 1998-99 and they have since won three championships with the Capitals.

While Jackson has gone on to become one of the best players and most recognised faces in women's basketball, Veal has not yet made the most of her potential.

She took a giant step forward in consistency this season.

"My season's are usually fairly mediocre with a few flashes here and there," Veal said, being a little harsh on herself.

"I got a light bulb moment this year. In the past I've tried to do everything, but it doesn't work because you try and do 25 things at once and you end up doing nothing. So this year I've just tried to let the game come to me. This year I've taken a step back, I've relaxed and stopped trying to be all that. It seems to have worked."

Capitals coach Tom Maher admitted he blasted Veal at halftime in yesterday's grand final.

Maher said that he had been particularly harsh on Veal this season, the same as he was with a young guard by the name of Michele Timms. Timms went on to become Australia's best point guard.

"I can be ferocious with kids with talent because you want them to make the most of their potential. I got into Vealy several times this season," Maher said. "But she takes it with a grain of salt and she's back training hard the next day.

"I think she is within an inch of [being an Opals player]. She has to grab it."

Veal was signing player cards for young fans after yesterday's grand final. They were cards of Veal playing for the Phoenix Mercury in the US Women's National Basketball Association.

"This is a trip, I used to collect these as a kid," Veal said.

Veal will head back to the United States for another season in the WNBA in late?April.

She will go through a training camp before securing another contract with Phoenix, where Capitals coach Carrie Graf is al so an assistant.

Veal said the entire Capital team had proven a point this year. She said the team had started the season determined to prove they were not a one woman team - that the Capitals were more than just Jackson.

"Now we know we don't need to prove it to anyone, we know ourselves," Veal said. If it was a one-man game, Loz would be our man, but it's a five-man game.

"If anyone ever dare attempts to say we're a one-man team, then send them my way."