In a riveting showcase of talent, speed, scoring, and skills, the Western Conference All-Stars made good on their promise and beat out the Eastern Conference All-Stars in a 117-112 victory at this weekend’s WNBA All-Star Game!
This year’s game took place at the Mohegan Sun in CT, home of the Connecticut Sun, and was filled with record-breaking scoring, clutch performances, and much more. Here are some key highlights from Saturday’s matchup:
1) 10 New All-Stars
This year, we saw an influx of brand new All-Stars, 10 to be exact, from both the East and the West. Some of the young ladies got this chance to play due to the injuries of Skylar Diggins, Seomine Augustus, and Lindsay Whalen, all of which are fan favorites and frequent faces on the All-Star Roster. This year’s newest All-Stars were East: Alex Bentley, Kelsey Bone, Stephanie Dolson, Emma Meesseman, Marissa Coleman; West: DeWanna Bonner, Kayla McBride, Jantel Lavendar, Riquana Williams, Plenette Pierson.
2) The Return of Elena Delle Donne
Technically, this SHOULD be Elena’s 3rd All-Star appearance: she was already voted in by the fans twice before. Due to injuries and health complications, she was not able to participate in previous festivities. This is a new year, and after a stellar first half of the season, the MVP front-runner made her debut on the All-Star court, scoring 17pts and grabbing 8 rebounds.
Elena interacting with fans during East practice
3) Alex Bentley: The Rising Star
When the Connecticut Sun played the Liberty here in NYC last week, I couldn’t help but marvel at the agility, scoring ability, speed, and grit of Sun guard Alex Bentley. Making her first All-Star appearance, Alex brought those same qualities to the floor as she represented home court. Despite the loss, she led the East in overall scoring with 23pts. If the East won the game, we know who would’ve been MVP.
(Photo Credit: Swish Appeal)
4) Tamika Catchings Plays Her 10th and Final All-Star Game
Perhaps the most bittersweet moment over the weekend was coming to terms that this year’s game would be Tamika Catchings’ final All-Star Game. She finished her 10th….TENTH…All-Star performamce with 8pts, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. She also become the all-time leading scorer in All-Star Game history (104pts), passing legend Tina Thompson. According to ESPN.com’sMechelle Voepel, “It’s definitely sentimental,” Catchings said, “This is my last All-Star. My playing career will be over next year, but hopefully the legacy I leave behind will keep going.” Tamika wrote about her final All-Star experience in her weekly blog post on SportsBlog.
Tamika with game jersey signed by fellow players and WNBA staff
5) Maya Moore Reminds Us Why She’s The Reigning MVP
Despite Elena being at the front of this year’s MVP race, reigning WNBA MVP Maya Moore reminded us of why she holds the crown. With the game on the line with under 3 minutes left, Maya took complete control, going on an 8-0 run, putting the West in the lead and ultimately winning the game. She finished with a record-breaking 30pts, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, making 10-16 shots and 6-10 from behind the arc. In the end, she earned this year’s award for WNBA All-Star Game MVP!
MVP Maya Moore set an All-Star Game record with 30 points pic.twitter.com/I6XhGss3lQ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 25, 2015
6) Focused Brittney Griner Puts On A High-Flying Show
It was great to see Brittney return to the All-Star floor focused and ready to put a smile on the face of the fans. Along with bringing the defensive presence that she is known for, she contributed 21pts to the West’s win, along with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. It wouldn’t be an All-Star performance without seeing the reigning DPOY do what she does best: attack the rim!
Overall, this year’s game did not disappoint, highlighting the growth and pure talent of the league. Now that this game is behind us, I can’t help but wonder where next year’s game will be held at for the league’s 20th season. Maybe they should go big…..New York big. #JustSaying
