A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart are serving as captains on the WNBA All-Star Recreation for the second consecutive yr, however the largest highlight of Saturday’s essential occasion in Las Vegas undoubtedly might be on Brittney Griner.
This time final yr, Griner was nonetheless on the opposite aspect of the world in a Russian jail, wrongfully detained on a drug cost, based on the U.S. State Division. With no approach of figuring out when — or if — Griner can be launched again to the USA, the WNBA All-Star Recreation was a tribute to Griner. She was an honorary All-Star starter, and each participant put a Griner No. 42 jersey on for the second half of the sport.
This yr, Griner earned her All-Star standing the old style approach. The Phoenix Mercury heart is averaging 19.5 factors, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per recreation and was the primary choice by Staff Stewart within the All-Star draft. It’s her eighth All-Star look.
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“It’s an excellent feeling to be right here,” Griner mentioned. “Didn’t assume I’d be at All-Star, didn’t assume I’d be stateside proper now.”
Griner, 32, mentioned she is glad to have the power to “flip (her) mind off” for just a few days and meet up with pals across the league because the WNBA pauses for its All-Star break.
Stewart felt there was a “void within the WNBA” final yr when Griner was in jail.
“Quick-forwarding to this yr’s All-Star, it’s unimaginable to have her right here, to have her sitting subsequent to me, to have her on my crew,” Stewart mentioned. “That was my No. 1 — I needed to do some behind-the-scenes negotiations to verify I received every little thing proper and the best way I needed it.”
Stewart can be relishing the day off, however make no mistake, the New York Liberty star needs to win Saturday’s recreation. Staff Wilson beat Staff Stewart 134-112 in final yr’s recreation in Chicago, because the Las Vegas Aces ahead improved to 2-0 as an All-Star captain.
“Everybody loves a very good rivalry,” Wilson mentioned. “Everyone seems to be sort of locked in all the time to our matchups, so it’s fairly cool that, although we now have these on-court matchups, we take a look at All-Star and it’s nonetheless a pleasant little factor the place folks sort of have a motive to go ‘backwards and forwards’ at. That’s what will get eyes to our sport.”
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Wilson drafted Las Vegas teammates Chelsea Grey and Jackie Younger along with her first two picks. Staff Wilson additionally options Aces star Kelsey Plum, fellow South Carolina alum Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever and 2021 All-Star Recreation MVP Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings.
Stewart made positive to seize Liberty teammates Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu within the draft, plus former Seattle Storm teammate and league-leading scorer Jewell Loyd (25.7).
First launched final yr, the sport will embody two circles at every finish of the court docket, 28 ft from the ring, the place photographs can be value 4 factors.
“As soon as it involves recreation time, we’ll be able to compete, have enjoyable, attempt to make some 4-pointers,” Stewart mentioned. “However woo, that’s far. That circle is way.”