Lynx's Fowles, Sims, Collier lead Team Wilson past Team Delle Donne 129-126
LAS VEGAS — The Minnesota Lynx were well-represented in the WNBA All-Star Game as Sylvia Fowles, Odyssey Sims and Napheesa Collier of Team Wilson beat Team Delle Donne 129-126.
All three players contributed off the bench with Fowles leading the way with 12 points and nine rebounds, Sims scored 10 points and Collier added four in her first All-Star appearance.
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. 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 hockey-like 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.
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.
POWER COUPLE: Alie Qugiley hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter over her wife Courtney Vandersloot. Quigley gave a smile and a glance back to her Chicago Sky teammate as she was running down the court. A few minutes later Vandersloot airballed a 3 and Quigley gave her a hug as they walked down the court. Quigley then hit another turnaround 3-pointer with Vandersloot running by as she fell into the front row. All she could do was put her hands up and laugh.
SIDELINED: Team captain A'ja Wilson wasn't able to play in the game because of an injured right ankle. She thanked the crowd in a heartfelt speech before the tip. Wilson was active on the sidelines during the game cheering on her teammates. Allie Quigley started in her place.
INTRO PRESSER: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert held her first official press conference since she started her job 10 days ago. The commissioner talked about a variety of subjects including the collective bargaining agreement, domestic violence and potential expansion. Engelbert also introduced a new initiative by USA Basketball that will expand their training over the next year leading up to the 2020 Olympics.
UP NEXT: The WNBA regular season resumes on Tuesday. With next year being an Olympic year it's unlikely there will be an All-Star Game as the league tends to take a month off in July for the Olympics.
