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WNBA Stars Garner Huge Internet Attention

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Diana Taurasi became an Internet sensation when the Phoenix star gave Seimone Augustus of Minnesota a peck on the cheek after the pair were called for double personal fouls in Minnesota's 85-62 rout of the Mercury on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Video of the moment has garnered more than 1.6 million views on YouTube in just 24 hours.

While it was unclear exactly what the foul was called for at the time, a WNBA spokesman said that "both players were given personal fouls for contact made coming up the floor."

The pair had been jostling up and down the court and the official stepped in after calling a foul to contain the situation early in the fourth quarter of the blowout. As the pair started to square off, Taurasi planted the kiss on Augustus' cheek.

Both players joked with reporters afterward about the incident.

The two stars have known each other since they first played AAU basketball in their early teens. They have been teammates and opponents in the WNBA, overseas and on USA basketball, earning gold medals together in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

The teams will play again Sunday in Phoenix with the Lynx looking to complete a sweep and advance to the WNBA finals for the third straight season. The Mercury will try and snap a 13-game losing streak to the Lynx.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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