Atlanta’s Allisha Gray Makes WNBA History at All-Star Weekend

PHOENIX (AP) — Allisha Gray made the opening night of WNBA All-Star weekend her own show.

The Atlanta Dream point guard had a historic night, becoming the first player to win both the 3-point shooting contest and the skills competition in the same year on Friday.

“It’s really cool. I’m glad now that I took the call when they asked me to play in both tournaments,” Gray said. “Now I have $55,000 more in my pocket.”

Gray received $2,575 from the league for each win, per the collective bargaining agreement, but also received $110,000 from Aflac as part of a partnership with the WNBPA.

She edged hometown favourite Sophie Cunningham by just over two seconds in the skills competition final. Then she edged Jonquel Jones by one point in the 3-point shootout about 45 minutes later.

“I felt like I was warming up after the skills challenge, running around the field,” Gray said. “I was a little tired from the skills challenge, but I was focused because I knew there was still 55 km to play.”

Jones was looking to become the first player to win the 3-point contest. She also reached the finals in 2021 before losing to four-time champion Allie Quigley. Jones had a chance to win the contest, but her final shot — the two-point money ball — fell short. She held her head high, disappointed.

“(Jones) made me nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Gray admitted.

She scored 25 points in the first round, the best among the five competitors. Gray got 23 points.

Neither defending champion Sabrina Ionescu nor rookie sensation Caitlin Clark have participated in the three-point contest this year. Ionescu is playing for the United States at the Olympics and is focused on preparing for the Paris Games.

After playing virtually nonstop for nine months between college and the WNBA, Clark just wanted to take some time to relax.

“I think the biggest thing for me is that I need a break,” she said. “I’m going to take some time for myself to enjoy what I want to do, and sometimes that can be hard in the situation that I’m in, but I think it was the healthiest thing for me.”

Brittney Griner was the only member of the U.S. Olympic team to compete in either event, finishing the obstacle course in 46.3 seconds.

There was also a 3-on-3 exhibition match between the American team heading to the Paris Olympics and an under-23 team made up of the best college players.

The Olympic team won the tight game 19-16 with Rhyne Howard scoring the final eight points for the winners, hitting four two-pointers. She finished the game scoring 12 of the team’s 19 points.

The game is played with one- and two-point baskets for 10 minutes or until one team scores 21 points.

Marina Mabrey, who was traded from Chicago to Connecticut on Wednesday, wore a Suns jersey for the first time. She and Gray competed in both the skills competition and the 3-point shootout. Mabrey narrowly missed the skills competition final.

She finished fifth in the 3-point contest with 19 points.

Ionescu and Becky Hammon also won the skills competition and the 3-point contest. Ionescu won the skills competition in 2022 and the 3-point contest last year. Hammon won the skills competition in 2007 and the 3-point contest in 2009.

WNBA AP: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball