The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Wheeler leads Team Wilson
LAS VEGAS >> Brittney Griner and the WNBA AllStars put on quite a show in Team Wilson’s 129-126 victory over Team Delle Donne on July 27.
Griner had an All-Star record three dunks, including an impressive two-handed jam where she hung on the rim over Aces star Liz Cambage. The Australian 6-foot-8 center had her own fun in the game, playing point guard. She waved off Aces teammate Kayla McBride when she tried to come over and take over the guard position.
The NBA experimented with two new rules during the contest, having a 20-second shot clock and allowing both teams to sub in one player on offense in a hockey-like move once a quarter. The shot clock barely made a difference as neither team came close to seeing it reach single digits. Team Delle Donne was the first to use the hockeylike sub putting Courtney Vandersloot in late in the first quarter.
Erica Wheeler, one of six first-time All-Stars, made the most of her debut, earning MVP honors by scoring 25 points. She teared up as she was presented the trophy.
The Fever guard hit her first six shots — all 3-pointers — to stake Team Wilson to a 77-63 lead at the half.
DeWanna Bonner rallied Team Delle Donne in the third quarter, scoring 11 points in the period to get it within 10. The team cut it to three with 41.5 seconds left on Nneka Ogwumike’s jumper. Wheeler answered though as the shot clock was winding down, hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the key. She did a dance on the other end to celebrate.
The 255 combined points are the most in All-Star history.
With the event in Las Vegas, it was a star-studded event. NBA player Chris Paul was sitting courtside as well as Kobe Bryant, who got a huge ovation from the crowd when he was introduced. Team Delle Donne member Jewell Loyd came over and gave Bryant’s daughter a hug. Loyd and Bryant go back a long way. The trio took a photo together at the half. Bryant was sitting a few seats over from Sue Bird and her girlfriend Megan Rapinoe, who led the U.S. women’s soccer team to the World Cup title earlier this month. Bird, Rapinoe and Breanna Stewart helped throw t-shirts to the crowd in the fourth quarter.