Basketball Duo Honored

Seattle SuperSonics guard Gary Payton and Seattle Reign rookie Kate Starbird have been named the 1997 Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sports Stars of the Year.

Payton became the first Sonics player in 17 years to claim the P-I’s men’s award. The All-Star point guard outdistanced Washington State football coach Mike Price in the balloting by guests at the 63rd annual banquet, receiving 321 votes to Price’s 230.

Starbird, who joined the Reign after a highly decorated college career at Stanford, outpolled jockey Chelsea Zupan 340 votes to 121.