Sky in the Stars: Quigley, DeShields and Vandersloot
For the first time since 2013, the Sky are sending three players to the All-Star Game.
Guards Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley and Diamond DeShields were among the 12 reserves chosen for the All-Star Game on July 27 in Las Vegas, the WNBA announced Monday.
It is Quigley’s third consecutive All-Star nod, DeShields’ first selection and Vandersloot’s second.
Quigley, Vandersloot and DeShields were grateful and more than deserving. The trio has been essential to the Sky’s first-half success.
Quigley is shooting 48.4 percent from three-point range and has made a league-high 45 threes.
The two-time champion of the three-point contest, Quigley hasn’t been contacted by the WNBA yet to defend her title. She said she’s open to participating in the competition July 26.
As for DeShields, she’s one of the most athletic and disruptive players in the league. Her confidence and flashiness on offense have made the second-year player a fan favorite.
Vandersloot, who has never grumbled about being snubbed in the past, attended the last two All-Star Games in support of Quigley, whom she married in December. The two said this year’s event is even more special because they get to share it.
“It seems like it’s always been one or another, which has been fine with us,” said Vandersloot, who leads the league in assists, averaging 8.2 per game. “But it’s really cool that we both get to experience it together. It’ll be really cool to look back on this one day when we were both All-Stars.”
The strong AllStar presence is a surefire step in the right direction for the Sky, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2016.
The Sky are 9-8 and in seventh place in the overall league standings. At this point last season, they were 7-15 and destined for a lottery pick. “A lot of times, people write us off, but you can’t do that on a team that has three All-Stars,” DeShields said. “It sends a message and lets people know that we have players over here in Chicago.”
Said Vandersloot: “We’ve always said from the beginning that we have this type of roster, and it was just about winning enough games to show it.”