Playing ball “like a girl” is no longer an insult – it is a compliment and in the first round of the NBA’s HORSE Challenge, one of the WNBA’s retired greats and one of the WNBA’s current greats proved exactly why.
And in the case of one of those players, she won. That’s right – she beat one of the guys.
When the slate for the NBA HORSE Challenge was announced, Allie Quigley (Chicago Sky) would square off against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chris Paul and Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever general manager) faced Mike Conley Jr. of the Utah Jazz.
Basketball fans that never knew of Quigley before now are finding out what we in the WNBA realm already knew – when she shoots, she rarely if ever misses.
Take a look back at the top highlights from @alliequigley‘s Round 1 victory over @CP3 in the @NBA HORSE Challenge. 🔥
Next up for @alliequigley is a matchup with @ZachLaVine!
Semifinals & Finals: Thursday 4/16 at 9 pm/et on @espn pic.twitter.com/gDzs7I5XrM
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 13, 2020
.@alliequigley = Dagger.
Semifinals bound, y’all!#NBAHorse #NBAHorseChallenge pic.twitter.com/p61kwbPSX0
— Chicago Sky (@wnbachicagosky) April 13, 2020
How we’re watching @alliequigley play HORSE. 📞 pic.twitter.com/cxZK1LJ84Q
— Chicago Sky (@wnbachicagosky) April 12, 2020
Every role is important 😂😂 https://t.co/Uyw0CssNVp
— Courtney Vandersloot (@Sloot22) April 13, 2020
Fittingly, what put the Quigs half of VanderQuigs over the top was a free throw bank shot off the backboard. In 2019, she shot 87 percent from the line. She even made one shot off the backboard while sitting down when Paul had already compiled four letters.
Catchings’ fortunes against Conley were a bit less fortunate than Quigley’s. Conley also had the advantage of hooping at an indoor gym in Ohio while she was outdoors in a windy Indy.
Conley was given a letter by Catchings, but three-pointers were what the Utah guard over the top.
Let’s go, @Mconley10!
Tune in: @ESPN pic.twitter.com/ZA9HpPiZIM
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 12, 2020
Mike’s not-so-secret weapon: Using his “weak hand”*
*Mike Conley does not have a weak hand
📺: @ESPN pic.twitter.com/xyKDZyXCsm
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 12, 2020
Mike without any letters 💅
📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/MQAOp0jJjt
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 12, 2020
Offhanded free throw ☑️
📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/prBMpOQLXq
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 12, 2020
Which one of you has this in your HORSE bag?
📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/a4x4jaR6Dl
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 12, 2020
MIKE CONLEY’S WINNING SHOT! He advances to the semifinals 🏀
Good game, @Catchin24 ❤️
📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/PQlMeoTtFw
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 13, 2020
At the very least, Quigley’s opponent in the semifinals on Thursday is another Second City baller. Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls finished his HORSE competition with zero letters when facing Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce.
Zach giving PP34 the work early!@ZachLavine: NO LETTERS@PaulPierce34: H-O
🎥: @espn pic.twitter.com/1hzY2PSUr6
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 13, 2020
“HE MADE IT?”@ZachLaVine from out of bounds! 💰 pic.twitter.com/GjFeUJd0Yi
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 13, 2020
As for the other quarterfinal between retired NBA great Chauncey Billups and Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, Ice Trae got out to a promising start by spotting the former Detroit Piston three letters.
Trae gave Chauncey a H with the easy bucket 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Fl80GFCBb6
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 12, 2020
Trae got him with the left handed free throw!
Trae:
Chauncey: H-O-R pic.twitter.com/ooY3htUhnf— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 12, 2020
Before Billups went full Mr. Big Shot on the young Hawks star.
The bank is open for Mr. Big Shot.
📺 @ESPN pic.twitter.com/g5QOCHM1I7
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 12, 2020
Still got it.
📺 @ESPN pic.twitter.com/aMqm4sSSTZ
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 12, 2020
He still has a few tricks up his sleeve. Check out Chauncey’s shots to beat Trae Young in H-O-R-S-E on @ESPN!
Think you can make any of these? Download the Greenfly app, create an account with code PISTONSFANS and send us your trick shots! pic.twitter.com/lwkEFhNJcI
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 13, 2020
“That’s the way to respect your elders, Trae!” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/3J7v4ifbVW
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 12, 2020
The semifinals and finals will air on ESPN with Quigley (!!!) vs. LaVine and Conley vs. Billups.
State Farm – the event’s sponsor – donated more than $200,000 to go towards coronavirus response efforts.
