MINNEAPOLIS -- Last season the Minnesota Lynx finished with a disappointing 14-20 record. The franchise was victorious in the WNBA draft lottery, however, and selected guard Seimone Augustus, touted by some as the top player ever to enter the league. This column will chronicle her WNBA baptism as Augustus begins what promises to be a standout professional career.

It came as a surprise to no one when Seimone Augustus was named to the WNBA All Star Game on July 8. Even Augustus herself took the honor in stride. When asked where she was when she found out the good news, the rookie shrugged, "I was back at home, I guess, and people started calling."

The lone member of the last-place Lynx to make the squad, Augustus wasn't the only high-profile rookie at Madison Square Garden for the festivities. Cappie Pondexter of the Phoenix Mercury, the No. 2 overall selection in this year's draft, also made the Western Conference team and is in a heated battle with Augustus for Rookie of the Year and the league's scoring title.

Despite that, Augustus insists there is no rivalry between the two young stars.

"We just play the game. We let everyone else deal with the hype and make a rivalry between us," the former Louisiana State star explained. "As far as we're concerned, we're just two basketball players trying to make a name for ourselves."

While Augustus entered the All Star break leading the league in scoring, as a team the Lynx limped into the intermission with a 7-12 record, having lost six of their last eight games.

"It's frustrating, but at the same time we are just going through some growing pains," she commented. "Hopefully we can … come back after the All Star break with a new focus and try to finish out the season on a positive note."

With losing inevitably comes criticism, and there have been some rumblings about Augustus taking too many shots, but she says it's all in the game plan. "I talk to my coach, I talk to my teammates; everybody expects me to take at least 20 shots a game -- 20 or more," the Baton Rouge native calmly pointed out. "(If) I get my shots off, it helps open up a lot of opportunities for my teammates to score as well."

"I always want my teammates to get involved," she continued. "There are certain times on the court where they see it more fit for me to shoot the ball, but I always want to see (center Nicole) Ohlde take her shots (and) do what she does in the paint. I (also) want to see (guard) Amber (Jacobs) get her shots on the wing."

Despite her team's youth and poor record, Augustus remains optimistic about the second half.

"I think so," she responded when asked if the Lynx can make the playoffs. "We know it is going to take a lot of work, but if we come out and do what we are supposed to do and some teams lose -- you never know how the second half will go. I wouldn't count (us) out."

Whether or not her team can make a dramatic turnaround remains to be seen, but with the first half of her rookie campaign in the books, there is no doubt Augustus has made the league take notice.