One of the events that the NBA stages every All-Star weekend is the Celebrity Game.
The rosters usually include a few WNBA currents, an NBA legend or two and a cavalcade’s worth of A, B, C, or even D-list celebrities that have probably daydreamed about dropping 53 in a game (ala Liz Cambage) more than a few times.
The full Celebrity Game rosters have been released and the Los Angeles Sparks’ Chelsea Gray and the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson will represent the WNBA on Friday night.
Anyone want to call right now that Gray hits the game-winner for her team?
Team captains @chancetherapper & @common headline #RufflesCelebGame rosters for coaches @stephenasmith & @RealMikeWilbon! pic.twitter.com/juQHOpCSF9
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 5, 2020
👀 the #RufflesCelebGame Nike uniforms!
📆: Friday February 14th
⏰: 7:00pm/et 📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/u47e71PaE2— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 5, 2020
Stephen A. Smith and Chicago’s very own Michael Wilbon will be the coaches for the two teams. Gray will be part of Team Wilbon along with Quentin Richardson, Jidenna, Famous Los, Jose Andres, Alex Moffat, Jon Batiste, Kane Brown, Hannibal Buress, Bad Bunny and team captain Common – also of the Windy City.
Wilson joins Darius Miles, Lil Rel Howery, Katelyn Ohashi, Ronnie 2K, Marc Lasry, Anthony “Spice” Adams, LaRoyce Hawkins, Taylor Bennett, Quavo and team captain Chance the Rapper – also representing Chicago.
Wilson was part of last year’s Celebs Game as well when NBA All-Star weekend took over the Carolinas last February. The women’s hoops contingent for that occasion also included Stefanie Dolson in addition to Sue Bird and South Carolina (and USA Basketball) coach Dawn Staley as the two Celebrity Game coaches.
See y’all in Chicago!! Let’s go Team Wilbon! #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/SrbYezrGZR
— Chelsea Gray (@cgray209) February 5, 2020
Team @stephenasmith looking real good!! #RufflesCelebGame 😆 pic.twitter.com/F95ZntCDXR
— A’ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) February 5, 2020
At first glance, it appears the women’s basketball contingency seems underwhelming compared to last year’s festivities in Charlotte. It is especially jarring considering the Celebs Game will be at Wintrust Arena – the home court of the Chicago Sky and zero Sky players are on either roster.
Many Sky players – including Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley are playing overseas as is the Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood, played her high school ball at Niles West in Skokie and played her college ball at Notre Dame.
Madeline Kenney of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that because of the widespread coronavirus that has affected China that two of the Sky’s players that would normally be taking part in WCBA basketball right now are currently stateside – Dolson (Hebei Win Power) and Cheyenne Parker (Sichuan Blue Wales).
Parker texted the Sun-Times and said she was available for appearances during NBA All-Star Weekend. Dolson has participated in the last pair of All-Star Celebrity Games.
Valentine’s night. Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Could be a date night idea for many Chicago-area couples…
