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Seattle guard Jewell Loyd shined the brightest in perhaps the most star-studded WNBA All-Star Game in league history.
Loyd helped lead Team Stewart to a 143-127 win over Team Wilson Saturday, July 15 from the Michelob Ultra Arena. Immediately after the game, the former Notre Dame guard was honored as the game’s Most Valuable Player for the first time in her career.
“It was a goal of mine to be honest with you,” she said. “It was a plan of mine but at the same time, my niece and nephew wanted me to go for it so anything for them right?”
Nicknamed the “Gold Mamba,” Loyd made mention of the “Black Mamba” Kobe Bryant, who donned her with the alias.
“It’s special because the last time I saw Kobe was here,” she said. “So I know that he’s constantly with me and I try to live by his words, ‘Be epic and create forever.’”
This year’s WNBA All-Star Game marked the third occasion in the last five years that the City of Las Vegas was the hosting site. In the days leading up to this contest, it was announced that the Michelob Ultra Arena would be preparing for a sellout.
Grammy-nominated artist Kehlani performed at halftime as several WNBA and NBA superstars of past and present were shown on the jumbotron.
“I feel like we did pretty well,” captain A’ja Wilson said. “I think that’s a question for [the other players] because I live here so the city is always lit. I think we did a pretty decent job of taking care of the all-stars because that’s always what we need to do. Elite women need to be taken care of.”
During the game, it was revealed that next year’s all-star game will take place in Phoenix, Arizona as the Mercury will be the hosting team.
“I’m lucky enough for it to be coming back again,” center Brittney Griner said. “I know that Phoenix and the Mercury organization is going to put on one hell of an all-star [experience], I know that for sure.”
Loyd set records in most points scored in an all-star game with 31 points and most three-pointers made in the mid-season exhibition game with 10.
In order to reach the record-breaking point total, Loyd had to break through a trap in the corner from Team Wilson but would eventually miss her attempt from deep. After an offensive rebound from Griner, Loyd was successful on her re-try.
“I think I played hard for my parents,” Loyd said. “I didn’t have a gift for their anniversary so I think this will be acceptable, I hope it is.”
Loyd was also responsible for draining the first four-pointer of the night from one of the four designated circles labeled on the floor. In addition, she was set up several times by former Seattle teammate and all-star game captain Breanna Stewart, who posted a game-high nine assists.
“I’m very proud of my nine assists,” Stewart said with a grin. “Is that a career-high? Maybe.”
On the other side of the court, Team Wilson was led by 30 points from MVP of last year’s game Kelsey Plum, starring in a reserve role for the group. This marked the second straight all-star game where Plum has poured in 30 points.
Fellow Aces backcourt teammates Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray scored six and five points respectively.
Wilson ended the night with 20 points in just over 24 minutes on the floor. She was all smiles during the game including on both of her made threes, knocking them down in the faces of Griner and forward Napheesa Collier.
Griner made her return to the all-star game after missing it last year as she remained held in a Russian prison. During the second half of last year’s game, all all-stars wore No. 42 jerseys in order to honor Griner.
“It really was [the best all-star game ever],” she said. “I’m just really happy to be back in this building, all-star is just a fun time that we all get to be together [...] Just being here with them after everything they did to support me during one of the toughest times it just means everything to be here.”
After the game’s scoring was opened by first-time selection Aliyah Boston, Griner responded with a deuce on the other end for her first points of the night. Moments after, she’d sky to the rim for a dunk. Not entirely pleased with the first one, Griner elevated for a second one soon after.
“The biggest thing is watch your head and don’t get dunked on,” Wilson said. “That was the defensive assignment: Anytime you see BG in the paint, I think you should just move out the way because we don’t know how that one ends.”
Prior to tip, Griner received the largest ovation of any member of Team Stewart.
“It means a lot,” Griner said. “All the people you’ve never met before that wrote a letter or – I’m still finding messages that people have sent me on social media.”
Griner responded with 10 points in the first quarter on her way to 18 for the game to go along with 13 rebounds and two blocks. Her second and final block of the game came on a driving Plum late in the fourth quarter with Team Stewart up more than 20 points.
As a response, Team Wilson opted to send four defenders at Griner the next time down the floor.
“What else were we supposed to do?” Wilson asked with a smile. “We were already down by 50 so we at least had to do something and show a little effort because people came to see us perform and do our thing. It didn’t really work out, we tried double-teaming Jewell, she still got out of the trap. Team Wilson had a couple of breakdowns, we have to go back to the drawing board.”