Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray becomes first player to win both 3-point and skills competitions at WNBA All-Star event – ​​WABE

Allisha Gray turned the opening night of WNBA All-Star weekend into her own show.

The Atlanta Dream guard had a historic night, becoming the first player to win both the 3-point and skills competitions in the same year on Friday.

“It’s really cool. Now I’m glad I accepted the call when they asked me to play in both,” Gray said. “Now I have another $55,000 in my pocket.”

Gray received $2,575 from the league for each win, according to the collective bargaining agreement. She also received $110,000 from Aflac as part of a partnership with the WNBPA.

She defeated her favorite Sophie Cunningham of the Phoenix Mercury by just over 2 seconds in the final of the skills competition, then defeated Jonquel Jones by one point in the 3-point shootout about 45 minutes later.

“I felt like I was warmed up after the skills challenge, running all over the field,” Gray said. “I was a little tired from the skills challenge, but I was determined because I knew there was another $55,000 on the line.”

Jones was looking to become the first post player to win the 3-point contest. She also reached the finals in 2021, but lost to four-time champion Allie Quigley. Jones had a chance to win the contest, but her final shot — the two-point money ball — fell short. She hung her head in disappointment.

“(Jones) made me nervous, I won’t deny that,” Gray admitted.

Jones scored 25 points in the opening round — the most among the five competitors. Gray had 23 points.

Neither reigning champion Sabrina Ionescu nor sensational rookie Caitlin Clark competed in the 3-point contest this year. Ionescu is playing for the U.S. in the Olympics and is focused on preparing for the Paris Games. They both play in the All-Star game on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

After playing virtually nonstop for nine months between college and the WNBA, Clark just wanted to take some time to relax.

“I think the biggest thing for me was, it’s just like I need a break,” she said. “I’m going to take some time for myself to enjoy what I want to do, and sometimes that can be a tough position to be in. But I think it was the healthiest thing for me.”

Brittney Griner was the only member of the U.S. Olympic team to compete in both events. She completed the obstacle course in 46.3 seconds.

There was also a 3-on-3 exhibition match between the US team going to the Paris Olympics and an under-23 team of top students from the university.

The Olympic team won the thrilling match 19-16, with Rhyne Howard scoring the final eight points for the winners, making four 2-point shots. She finished the match with 12 of the team’s 19 points.

The game is played with one- and two-pointers for 10 minutes or until one team scores 21 points.

Marina Mabrey, who transferred from Chicago to Connecticut on Wednesday, wore a Sun jersey for the first time. She and Gray competed in both the skills competition and the 3-point shootout. Mabrey narrowly missed the skills competition final. She finished fifth in the 3-point competition with 19 points.

Ionescu and Becky Hammon won the skills challenge and 3-point contest in separate years. Ionescu won the skills in 2022 and the 3-point contest last year. Hammon, the current coach of the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces, won the skills in 2007 and the 3-point in 2009.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball