Michael Voepel
Multiple Authors
CHICAGO — Jonquel Jones made historical past. Caitlin Clark made 5 3-pointers. And Olivia Miles made certain her Rookie of the Year-worthy marketing campaign acquired one other robust efficiency.
The trio helped lead Team Spoon to a 129-122 win over Team Coop in Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game at the United Center.
Jones got here off the bench to complete two assists shy of a triple-double and was named MVP, capping a trying week as her aunt lately died.
Team Coop had loads of highlights, too. Dominique Malonga dunked, and Kelsey Mitchell scored a game-high 28 factors.
Here’s a better look at how every player carried out Saturday.
Jump to: Team Spoon | Team Coop | 3-point contest | Shooting Stars
Winners: Team Spoon
Jonquel Jones, F, New York Liberty
Grade: A+
On an emotional weekend for Jones after her aunt’s loss of life, she had an awesome recreation Saturday and added to her assortment of MVP trophies. She is the solely player to win MVPs for the common season (2021), the Commissioner’s Cup (2023), the WNBA Finals (2024) and the All-Star Game. Jones completed with 22 factors, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
Olivia Miles, G, Minnesota Lynx
Grade: A+
The solely rookie on this All-Star Game, Miles performed as nicely Saturday as she has all through the season in main the Lynx to the greatest file in the WNBA. Miles had 11 factors on 5-of-5 capturing, 12 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Her candidacy for Rookie of the Year did not must get any stronger than it already was, however this efficiency was one other feather in her cap.
Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Fever
Grade: A
Clark wasn’t capable of play in final season’s All-Star Game in her house enviornment in Indianapolis as she was out with an damage. She wasted no time Saturday making an influence, nonetheless, scoring 11 of Team Spoon’s first 13 factors. Clark completed with 17 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. She took the most 3-pointers in the recreation, making 5-of-15. And a few of these have been deep even for Clark. But the good second she shared with former President Barack Obama on Friday is perhaps what she remembers most from this All-Star weekend.
Allisha Gray, G, Atlanta Dream
Grade: A
Does any player do extra with much less acclaim than Gray? On Saturday, she had 19 factors in 21 minutes, making 7 of 14 photographs, together with 5-of-9 from 3-point vary. She added two rebounds and two assists. Gray, after all, can be pivotal for the Dream in the second half of the season.
Nneka Ogwumike, F, Los Angeles Sparks
Grade: A
Ogwumike registered 11 factors and 9 rebounds, and she or he now holds the file for many factors (127) in WNBA All-Star Game historical past. She handed three-time All-Star MVP Maya Moore, who totaled 119 factors. This was Ogwumike’s eleventh All-Star look. The No. 1 draft decide in 2012 remains to be a star player at age 36, together with all her work as the president of the gamers’ affiliation.
Courtney Williams, G, Minnesota Lynx
Grade: A-
Along together with her entertaining StudBudz livestream from All-Star weekend with Seattle’s Natisha Hiedeman, Williams had a robust recreation, ending with 12 factors and 7 assists. Williams has been one among the veteran standouts for the league-leading Lynx this season.
Kiki Iriafen, F, Washington Mystics
Grade: B+
Two seasons, two All-Star appearances for Iriafen, one among the standouts making up the younger core of the Mystics. She had 10 factors on 5-of-8 capturing and 6 rebounds Saturday. Last 12 months, she posted 17 factors and 10 rebounds as a rookie All-Star.
A’ja Wilson, C, Las Vegas Aces
Grade: B+
After a quiet All-Star Game final season (4 factors, two rebounds, two assists in 12 minutes), Wilson did not play that rather more this 12 months however made the most of it. In 14 minutes, she completed with 12 factors, three rebounds and a block (though she stated she truly did not imply to dam the shot). She additionally joked about beating her Aces coach, Becky Hammon, and teammate Jackie Young of Team Coop.
Jessica Shepard, F, Dallas Wings
Grade: B
Shepard is having her greatest season as a WNBA player, discovering what she has referred to as an awesome match with the Wings. In her first All-Star look at age 29 in her sixth WNBA season, Shepard had seven factors on 3-of-3 capturing, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Shepard has 4 triple-doubles this season, the most up-to-date coming in Wednesday’s win over Portland (18 factors, 15 rebounds, 10 assists).
Rhyne Howard, G, Atlanta Dream
Grade: C+
Howard tallied eight factors, three assists and three rebounds. It was a strong efficiency, however she went 2-of-11 from 3-point vary. For the season, although, she ranks second in the WNBA in 3-pointers with 79.
Aliyah Boston, F/C, Indiana Fever
Grade: no grade
Boston performed simply 5 minutes and took one shot, ending with no factors and one rebound. While it was a quiet All-Star Game for her, she’s having one other robust season, averaging 17.3 factors and eight.5 rebounds as the anchor inside for the Fever.
Losers: Team Coop
Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana Fever
Grade: A+
The Fever’s sharpshooter would have been the MVP had Team Coop pulled out the victory. As it’s, she nonetheless earns the absolute best grade after scoring a game-high 28 factors on 11-of-19 capturing, together with 5-of-11 from behind the arc. Mitchell additionally had 4 rebounds, two assists and 5 steals. For the season, she is averaging 23.3 factors and capturing 49.8%, together with 42.5% from 3-point vary.
Dominique Malonga, C, Seattle Storm
Grade: A+
Just 20 years previous and a first-time WNBA All-Star, Malonga turned the youngest player to register a double-double in an All-Star Game. She had 12 factors and 13 rebounds in 16 minutes. But her greatest second was a second-quarter dunk, which additionally made her the youngest player to dunk in an All-Star Game. The 2025 No. 2 draft decide goes to be a blast to observe as she continues her profession.
Marina Mabrey, G, Toronto Tempo
Grade: A
A primary-time All-Star at age 29, Mabrey has develop into the face of the enlargement Tempo, tying the WNBA single-game scoring file with 53 factors earlier this season. One of 5 gamers on this All-Star Game who attended Notre Dame, Mabrey performed nicely not distant from the Fighting Irish’s South Bend, Indiana, campus. She had 23 factors on 9-of-21 capturing, together with 5 3-pointers, to go together with three rebounds and two assists.
Gabby Williams, F, Golden State Valkyries
Grade: A
In her first season at Golden State, Williams has slot in completely as one among the league’s high defenders. Her offense has been spectacular too, and she or he confirmed that Saturday with 18 factors and 6 assists to go together with 5 rebounds.
Paige Bueckers, G, Dallas Wings
Grade: B+
Bueckers was clearly having enjoyable on this recreation, together with one well-placed, between-the-legs go again to Breanna Stewart (who sadly did not hit the shot to make it an help). Bueckers completed with 12 factors on 5-of-11 capturing and 7 assists. Last season, Bueckers had six factors and eight assists as a rookie All-Star.
Sonia Citron, G, Washington Mystics
Grade: B
Like Bueckers and Iriafen, Citron was a rookie All-Star final season. On Saturday, she performed simply 11 minutes however made numerous her time on court docket with eight factors on 3-of-3 capturing and a pair of assists. And like Iriafen, Citron is a key a part of the Mystics’ younger core. In final 12 months’s All-Star Game, Citron had 11 factors, two assists and two rebounds.
Breanna Stewart, F, New York Liberty
Grade: B
Stewart’s 13 rebounds and 7 assists have been spectacular, even whereas being restricted to 6 factors on 3-of-7 capturing. Stewart and New York teammate Jones of Team Spoon mixed had 26 rebounds. The Liberty find it irresistible after they’re doing that board work for the identical workforce.
Natasha Howard, F, Minnesota Lynx
Grade: C+
Howard had eight factors and 4 rebounds however was 3-of-10 from the area. She has been a rock inside for the Lynx this season. particularly as the workforce awaited the return of Napheesa Collier, who performed her first recreation June 22 after recovering from ankle surgical procedure. While Howard’s numbers would possibly go down with Collier’s return, she stays crucial to the Lynx.
Kahleah Copper, G/F, Phoenix Mercury
Grade: C
Copper was named a substitute player for Kelsey Plum, who has been out injured since June 21. Copper did OK together with her 11 minutes of court docket time, ending with 4 factors, 4 rebounds, two assists and two steals. She is averaging 20.5 factors for the Mercury, who’re hoping to have a greater second half of the season.
Angel Reese, F, Atlanta Dream
Grade: C
Reese, who performed the first two seasons of her profession in Chicago, acquired a number of applause from the United Center followers when she was launched Saturday. Traded to Atlanta earlier than this season, she’s averaging a double-double for the Dream (15.4 factors, 11.5 rebounds). In the All-Star Game, she took only one shot and did not rating, however she had 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 9 minutes.
Jackie Young, G, Las Vegas Aces
Grade: C
It was a quiet evening for Young, one other of the former Fighting Irish gamers who have been on this All-Star Game. She had three factors and three assists in 10 minutes. Her influence for the Aces, although, is big. She is averaging 16.7 factors, 4.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists for Las Vegas, with whom she has gained three WNBA titles.
Friday’s occasions
Youth took middle stage Friday at the WNBA’s All-Star 3-point and Shooting Stars competitions at Wintrust Arena. Dallas Wings guard and No. 1 draft decide Azzi Fudd turned the first rookie to take the 3-point trophy, and prep player Jezelle “GG” Banks led the approach for Team Washington in Shooting Stars.
“She carried. She carried,” Washington Mystics middle Shakira Austin stated of Shooting Stars teammate Banks. “You could just tell her energy as soon as we started.”
Fudd, who has made 53 of 137 3-pointers this season (38.7%) for the Wings, stated profitable Friday is one thing she will carry over to the stretch run for Dallas.
“A 3-point competition isn’t like shooting 3s in a game, but it does feel good,” Fudd stated. “It is a little extra boost going into the second half [of the season].”
Here are the grades for Friday’s competitions.
3-point contest
Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings
Grade: A+
Fudd was at her greatest on the first rack and from the high of the key in the opening spherical, hitting 4 photographs from each positions on the method to a rating of 24.
By going first in the remaining, Fudd stated she capitalized on getting her nerves out of the approach. She was in a groove from the begin, swishing all 5 on the first rack and setting the tone: This was going to be her evening. She stored up the momentum from the high of the key, making 4 once more there. She additionally made 4 from the final rack. She completed that spherical with a rating of 30.
Fudd’s shot, which she stated is equivalent to her mother’s, is a signature of her recreation. And now it has earned her an enormous accolade in her first WNBA season. Fudd stated she would come again subsequent 12 months to the 3-point capturing contest if she is invited. Safe to say that invitation ought to already be prolonged.
Bridget Carleton, Portland Fire
Grade: A
Carleton was the hottest shooter in the first spherical, ending with a rating of 27 that included an ideal remaining rack. Carleton, who beforehand performed for the Minnesota Lynx, has been one among the high gamers this season for the enlargement Fire, making 67 of 179 3-pointers to date (37.4%). She wasn’t as sharp in her remaining spherical, ending with 19, however Fudd was a troublesome act to comply with.
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Grade: B
Howard made at least 80 3-pointers in every of her first 4 seasons in the WNBA, and she or he is already practically there midway via this season (79 of 223, 35.4%). The 2022 No. 1 draft decide, Howard hit both three or two photographs on every of the racks Friday. She was constant however simply wanted a pair extra photographs to drop, ending with a rating of 20.
Janelle Salaun, Golden State Valkyries
Grade: B
She had a robust end, making 4 photographs every from the fourth and fifth racks to complete with a rating of 19. But the high of the key was a tough spot for Salaun; she made only one shot there. After beginning final season as a rookie, Salaun has come off the bench this season for the Valkyries and is their high 3-point shooter (67 of 170, 39.4%). She was additionally their greatest from past the arc final season (63 of 172, 36.6%).
Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo
Grade: C
Mabrey leads the WNBA in 3-pointers this season with 82, forward of Howard’s 79. From that perspective, the first-time All-Star might need been thought of the favourite Friday. But she acquired off to a sluggish begin, making only one shot on the first rack. She wasn’t far off — her first three photographs rolled round the rim — however that set the tone, and she or he could not make up sufficient floor the remainder of the approach. She completed with a rating of 18, however contemplating that Mabrey has six video games this season with at least 5 3-pointers — she has made 9 in a recreation twice — you’ll be able to ensure that Friday’s competitors will not dent her confidence.
Natisha Hiedeman, Seattle Storm
Grade: C-
Hiedeman did not hit a shot on the first rack. While that’s not all the time the kiss of loss of life in these competitions, on this case it was. Her greatest spot Friday was the high of the key, the place she made 4 photographs and appeared to achieve some momentum. She completed with a rating of 17, the first in the group to compete and to be eradicated. Though Friday wasn’t her evening, Hiedeman has earned kudos in her first season in Seattle after 5 years in Connecticut and the final two in Minnesota. She has made 58 of 169 3-pointers (34.3%) and is a wanted veteran presence for a younger Storm workforce.
Shooting Stars
Team Washington
Legend: Elena Delle Donne
Current player: Shakira Austin
Nike NYBL player: Jezelle “GG” Banks
Grade: A+
Delle Donne is one among the all-time nice scorers in ladies’s basketball historical past and a two-time WNBA MVP. But Friday she gave credit score to Banks, her fellow native of Wilmington, Delaware. The younger guard, who’s No. 4 on ESPN’s Sports activitiesCenter Next 100 for the class of 2027, made two 4-point photographs in the remaining for Team Washington, which gained with 31 factors. Delle Donne additionally credited Banks for having the confidence to shoot first. The Hall of Famer stated that made sense contemplating she and Austin are each 6-foot-5, and the 5-10 Banks is the quickest of the trio.
That velocity was necessary as a result of time is of the essence on this competitors, which was new to WNBA All-Star Weekend this 12 months. The three-person groups had 70 seconds to attain from seven spots on the court docket, which ended with the 4-point half-court shot. Team Washington superior to the remaining with a 35-point first spherical. Austin is averaging profession highs of 15.0 factors and 9.5 rebounds and stated she was “delighted” to return away with the trophy and money prize Friday.
Team Seattle
Legend: Lauren Jackson
Current player: Flau’jae Johnson
Nike NYBL player: Tatiana “Tati” Griffin
Grade: B
Another Hall of Famer graced Seattle’s squad; Johnson is a rookie, and Griffin is the No. 1-ranked player in the Sports activitiesCenter Next 100 Class of 2028, a 6-0 guard from Mater Dei High School in California. Jackson, whose final season in the WNBA was 2012, admitted earlier than the competitors that she does not actually play basketball anymore (she wants a knee substitute). But she determined this occasion was price the trek from her native Australia together with her son and stated she simply loved being again in the WNBA setting. The three-time MVP helped Team Seattle to 26 factors in the first spherical, incomes a visit to the remaining; in the second spherical the gamers scored 24.
Team Detroit/Dallas
Legend: Deanna “Tweety” Nolan
Current player: Jessica Shepard
Nike NYBL player: Morghan Reckley
Grade: C
The 6-4 ahead Shepard is having a profession 12 months for the Dallas Wings, averaging 14.9 factors and 12.0 rebounds in a season that yielded her first All-Star look. Unsurprisingly, she was the sharpest player for Team Dallas/Detroit, which totaled 20 factors. Nolan, who was a part of three WNBA championship groups with Detroit earlier than that franchise relocated to Tulsa after which to Dallas, struggled extra to seek out her rhythm. The four-time WNBA All-Star ended her profession in the league in 2009 when the franchise first moved though she continued to play abroad for a number of years.
Reckley, a 5-7 guard from Georgia, is No. 5 in the Sports activitiesCenter Next 100 Class of 2028. And whereas Nolan, 46, may not have been on fireplace Friday, Reckley may decide up some ideas watching classic footage of “Tweety,” who acquired to the rim as explosively as any guard in WNBA historical past when she was with the Shock.
Team Minnesota
Legend: Rebekkah Brunson
Current player: Courtney Williams
Nike NYBL player: Ryan Carter
Grade: C-
The Minnesota Lynx are atop the WNBA at the All-Star break with a file of 22-6. But Team Minnesota did not fairly have it Friday in the Shooting Stars competitors, ending with 19 factors. Brunson, who gained 5 WNBA titles and is one among the high rebounders in league historical past, is presently an assistant coach for the Lynx. Williams has been one among the keys to Minnesota’s robust begin, averaging 15.3 factors, and she or he had the greatest general efficiency for Team Minnesota. Carter, a 6-0 guard from Pennsylvania, is No. 12 in the Sports activitiesCenter Next 100 Class of 2027. Like the different 4 prep gamers competing Friday, Carter has not but introduced a school vacation spot.
