July 18, 2024
WNBA players gear up for 2024 All-Star events
Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones to headline Friday’s events
The Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner and New York Liberty’s Jonquel Jones will lead a roster of WNBA stars to compete in events Friday during the 2024 WNBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix, the league announced Wednesday.
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Griner will participate in the Skills Challenge alongside guards Sophie Cunningham (Phoenix Mercury), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun) and Erica Wheeler (Indiana Fever). The competition tests various basketball skills, including dribbling, passing and shooting. Competitors will navigate an obstacle course that includes shots from multiple positions on the court. The two fastest players from the first round will advance to the final round.
Jones will compete in the 3-Point Contest. She will face Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), the league leader in 3-point field goal percentage; Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx), Gray and Mabrey. The two-round competition features ball racks at five spots around the 3-point arc, with a mix of regular and “money” balls worth varying points. Additionally, two Starry balls at deeper positions are worth three points each. The top two scorers from the first round will move on to the final round.
On Thursday, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike announced on X, formerly Twitter, that Aflac will pay $55,000 to the winner of each competition. ESPN will broadcast the events live from the Footprint Center at 9 p.m. ET. Three-on-three basketball will also be broadcast, with a match between the U.S. women’s national team and the U.S. women’s U-23 team.
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