Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Phoenix, AZ–
The stars were out tonight in Phoenix for the first night of the 2024 WNBA All Star weekend featuring the Skills Challenge and Starry Three Point Contest, where Allisha Gray from the Atlanta Dream stole the show winning both contests for the first time in WNBA All Star History.
Gray won the All-Star Skills Challenge by completing the course in 32.1 seconds in the final round. She was able to edge out the Phoenix Mercury’s Sophie Cunningham (34.5), who had homecourt advantage at Footprint Center.
During the first round we had a ton of confidence in hometown favorite Mystics Forward Stephanie Dolson, but it was Jonquel Jones that we have seen quite a few times drop the hammer on the three pointers in D.C that ousted Dolson in the first round.
With Gray winning both contests she takes home a grand total of $115,150 that included AFLAC stepping up and offering $55,000 for each category winner, which makes the $2,575 from the league look like a spare $20 bill you might find laying on the ground at a 7-11.
Gray told ESPN’s Holly Rowe that maybe I will go on a little golfing shopping spree, or earlier she said she might use the $55,000 to start a business. Apparently, Gray’s golf game is pretty solid, however she couldn’t confirm her current handicap.
Prior to the Starry Three-point contest, fans had the chance to see the USA 3X3 face off against the U23 USA 3X3 team. While this was a great addition, many of the fans we saw really didn’t quite understand this part of it and the energy sort of left the building during the event. Lots of great talent on both teams, just not the right mix in for this type of All Star weekend.
Next up is the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese show versus the United States team tomorrow night at Footprint Arena.
