PHOENIX – The WNBA revealed its participants on Wednesday, for Friday’s All Star 3-point contest at the Footprint Center in Phoenix at 9 p.m ET on ESPN. Participants include Washington Mystics Center Stefanie Dolson, Atlanta Dream’ Allisha Gray, Power forward from the New York Liberty Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun’s newest player Marina Mabrey, and Kayla McBride.
Participants of the three-point contest will battle in two rounds of a completion that is timed using its ball racks in five different shooting locations around the three-point arc. There will be one rack that will have the “money” ball’s that are worth two points while in the other rack there will be one ball that is a “money” ball. There will also be two ball pedestals in deep shot locations for the specific “The Starry Range”. One ball is on the pedestals known as the “Starry Ball” and are worth three points. After the first round the two players who have the highest scores will move on to the last round.
Mystic’s Stefanie Dolson will be looking to take the competition by Storm with her three-point-shot ability. Dolson’s 50% from behind the three-point line is currently leading the league. Opponents haven’t been able to stop nor slow down Dolson’s electric shot from going in. Fans are excited and will be cheering on Dolson representing the Mystics at the All-Star events this weekend.
Her being … able to space the floor definitely makes it difficult for me as a shot blocker who likes to be around the rim,” Dolson’s former UConn teammate and current Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes told The Next before a game against the Mystics on Saturday. “…
But props to her. Her shot has always been good, but I feel like she’s been a lot more confident this season, or at least she’s showing it lately.”
Atlanta’s Dream’s guard Allisha Gray will be competing in the All-Star game, Skills challenge and three-point contest. Gray’s tremendous performance throughout the seasons, is a clear testament for why she was invited to play in three events. The Dream’s guard is now the fifth player in franchise history to receive multiple All-Star selections. Gray is a 36% three-point shooter who has been doing very well this season. Averaging 15.5 points, and 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assist per game.
The 6-foot-6 power forward will also participate in the three-point contest and All-Star game. New York liberty’s X factor has been Jonquel Jones stretching the floor and shooting over opponents. Jones is shooting lights out at 40%, averaging 15.6 points, and 9 rebounds, 3.5 assists a game. Jones is shooting the three potentially better than most guards this season and is expected to do very well in both events. Liberty Power Forward will make her second appearance in the three-point contest after placing second back in 2021.
Connecticut Sun’s newest guard Marina Mabrey as of Tuesday, will play in both the three-point contest and skills challenge. Mabrey has been a key shooter for the Chicago Sky all season. Sun’s guard Mabrey has a great ability to create a shot for herself or others and set the offense up. Mabrey is shooting 34.4% from 3, She hits 2.3 3-pointers per game.
“You can’t give her any space,” Dallas Wings head coach Latricia Trammell said last month. “She has such a quick release. So the point of attack has to be really strong.”
McBride is highly favored to win the All-Star three-point contest on Friday. The Lynx guard is dominating the league with her deadly shooting ability, being a 42.7%from the three-point line. McBride is averaging Seven made threes per game as of this season. She is shooting the three outstanding this season and will be tough competition for her competitors.
“Who wanna bet sum? I got whatever on Mac”, McBrides teammate Courtney Williams tweeted on X.
Viewers were surprised after news broke that Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark weren’t going to compete in the contest. The Liberty guard made 74 three’s so far this season to lead the league and Clark tied for third in the most made threes with 71. Later it was announced by the WNBA that the pair were both invited but declined due focusing on their own commitments. As the 2024 Paris Olympics will start soon, Ionescu is at camp preparing. Indiana’s Clark turned down the invitation to keep her focus only with the All-Star game on Saturday.
The three-point contest will be an interesting battle to see who can pull out the win. Regardless of the percentages it will be a competition of who is best on a Friday.
Kierra Richardson is a Journalism student at Ohio State University desiring to work in sports media.
