Erica Wheeler hoped to make her WNBA All-Star Game debut an unforgettable one — and she certainly did, walking away with the most valuable player (MVP) award.
Wheeler, the first undrafted player to debut in the league since 2003 and earn an All-Star spot, scored 25 points on Saturday and led Team Wilson to a 129-126 victory over Team Delle Donne. The Indiana Fever guard got emotional, tearing up when she accepted the MVP award.
“To me it was to make my mark and I think I did that,” said Wheeler, who was one of six first-time All-Stars. “I’m a no-name and left today with a name that everyone can remember.”
Photo: AFP
Her fellow All-Stars also were nearly as emotional, knowing what Wheeler went through to even make the league.
“I was crying my eyes out,” team captain A’ja Wilson said. “It’s real moments like that that people don’t see. That’s what it’s all about.”
Phoenix’s Brittney 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.
Photo: AFP
The Australian 188cm 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 WNBA 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 hockey-like sub putting Courtney Vandersloot in late in the first quarter.
Team Wilson built a 14-point halftime lead behind Wheeler, who hit her first six shots — all three-pointers.
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.
However, Wheeler answered as the shot clock was winding down, hitting a three-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 photograph together at the half.
Bryant was sitting a few seats over from Sue Bird and her girlfriend Megan Rapinoe, who led the US women’s soccer team to the FIFA World Cup title earlier this month.
Bird, Rapinoe and Breanna Stewart helped throw T-shirts to the crowd in the fourth quarter.
Las Vegas certainly put on a show with members of Cirque du Soleil performing while the All-Stars were being introduced. Blue Man Group was going throughout the crowd spraying streamers.
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