Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray put on a dream performance during the opening night of WNBA All-Star Weekend on Friday night. She became the first player to win both the skills challenge and the 3-point contest.
Gray won the All-Star Skills Challenge by completing the course in 32.1 seconds in the final round. That beat out Phoenix Mercury’s Sophie Cunningham (34.5), who had home-field advantage at the Footprint Center.
Dream’s guard advanced to the event finals with a time of 31.2 seconds in the first round. She and Cunningham (35.5 seconds) beat out Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey and Kelsey Mitchell (who replaced Erica Wheeler, who missed the event due to a cancelled flight) to compete for the trophy and a $55,000 cash prize.
The eight-year WNBA veteran continued her performance by defeating Jonquel Jones in the three-point contest with 22 points. Jones finished with 21 points, missing the final shot that would have given her the win.
By winning both tournaments, Gray takes home $115,150, which represents 62% of her $185,000 WNBA salary for 2024. The winners of each tournament received $2,575 from the league but also $55,000 from Aflac in an endorsement deal.
“Come to think of it, I took a nice nap, maybe I’ll go golfing or shopping,” Gray told ESPN’s Holly Rowe, after previously saying he could use the $55,000. To start a business.
Jones (40%) and Stefanie Dolson (50%) of the Washington Mystics were clearly the favorites in the 3-point contest as the league’s top two 3-point shooters in the competition. A final between centers would have been a win for the frontcourt players over the point guards and forwards, who tend to take the most shots from long range. Gray is hitting 36% of her 3-pointers so far this season.
The skills challenge included a timed obstacle course to test skills such as dribbling, bounce passes, chest passes and outlet passes, as well as elbow jump shots and three-point shots from the top of the arc and the corner. The three-point contest is a two-round timed competition with five shooting locations around the arc.
In the first-ever WNBA 3×3 Showcase, the Olympic team consisting of Los Angeles Sparks’ Dearica Hamby, Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard, TCU’s Hailey Van Lith and Cierra Burdick (currently playing in Spain) defeated the U23 college all-star team, which included Maryland’s Christina Dalce, Creighton’s Morgan Maly, Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon, Iowa’s Lucy Olsen, LSU’s Mikaylah Williams and Wisconsin’s Serah Williams.
The 3v3 game is played on a half court with a 10-minute clock. Any shot taken inside the 3-point arc is worth one point, while shots taken outside the arc are worth two points. The first team to score 21 points wins, or the team with the most points after 10 minutes have elapsed.
Here’s how Friday night’s action unfolded on Yahoo Sports’ live blog with Cassandra Negley:
LIVE COVERAGE HAS ENDED30 updates
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You think winning these All-Star events isn’t important to players beyond bragging rights? Allisha Gray earned 31% of her 2024 WNBA salary tonight. What happens if she wins the 3-point contest?
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LSU star Flau’jae Johnson is on the court to enjoy the All-Star weekend festivities. How long until he takes part in this event?
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