By: Nina Samone
WNBA fans all over had an action-packed weekend where the WNBA All-Star game took place – for the first time ever in Chicago.
Team Wilson was victorious over team Stewart in a high-scoring 134-112 game. The All-Star game MVP was Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces, who scored 30 points and tied the 2015 All-Star game record set by Maya Moore.
Plum was on fire, with every intention of competing for the MVP title – the first in her career. She ended with a team-high 18 shots, knocking down 12 of them and setting a new All-Star record for made field-goals.
Another spotlight was on Minnesota Lynx legend Sylvia Fowles, who is retiring after this season. It started off with Team Wilson running a play to get Fowles a 3-point shot – she has only attempted a single 3-pointer in her 15-season career.
The play was run beautifully, and she drained it.
In the 2nd quarter, Fowles stole the ball from Jackie Young and went coast to coast to throw down a dunk at the other end, bringing both teams and all fans in the arena to their feet.
Brittney Griner, who remains detained in Russia, after being arrested in February, was deemed an honorary All-Star for the game. Players paid tribute to her by wearing her number – 42— in the 2nd half.
Sources:
Maloney, Jack. July 10th, 2022. CBS Sports. “2022 WNBA All-Star Game: Team Wilson beats Team Stewart; Kelsey Plum wins All-Star MVP.” <https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/2022-wnba-all-star-game-team-wilson-beats-team-stewart-kelsey-plum-wins-all-star-mvp/>
Hawley, Larry. July 11th, 2022. WGN9. “A recap of Chicago’s 1st WNBA All-Star Weekend.” <https://wgntv.com/sports/a-recap-of-chicagos-1st-wnba-all-star-weekend/>
