The New York Liberty owned the primary evening of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend, with Sabrina Ionescu profitable the 3-point contest and Natasha Cloud taking the abilities competitors. They gained not simply the trophies, however sponsor bonuses of $60,000 for Ionescu and $55,000 for Cloud, plus $2,575 every from the league, as outlined within the CBA.
A raucous crowd of 15,139 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse confirmed up not only for Fever gamers, however all of the rivals. Erica Wheeler, who performed in Indiana for six seasons and is now on the Seattle Storm, acquired one of many largest cheers of the evening as she competed within the abilities competitors.
Whereas Caitlin Clark was not in a position to make her 3-point contest debut in entrance of her house crowd due to a groin pressure she suffered this week, she was nonetheless readily available to cheer on her teammate Lexie Hull, who changed Clark within the 3-point competitors. Clark will, nonetheless, plan on serving to coach the All-Star staff bearing her title, alongside Liberty coach Sandy Brondello.
Listed below are a number of the greatest moments of the weekend up to now after the primary evening of competitors:
The final time Ionescu was in a 3-point competitors in Indianapolis, she misplaced to Steph Curry on the NBAs All-Star Weekend. She needed to erase that reminiscence, so she earned 30 factors within the closing. Ionescu stated she referred to as Curry afterward to point out him the trophy.
Her win included 11 straight pictures made. She nonetheless apologized for lacking pictures in her interview with ESPN.
“Effectively, I’m fairly disillusioned,” Ionescu informed ESPN’s Holly Rowe afterward. “I really feel like I missed just a few simple ones there that I positively may have made, so I’m sorry about that. However simply completely happy to be right here and clearly completely happy to have gained with my teammate, Natasha Cloud.”
Ionescu went first, and Allisha Grey, final years winner, couldn’t come near the rhythm Ionescu had on the racks.
With the win, Ionescu turned simply the second individual to win a second 3-point competitors in WNBA historical past. She joins Allie Quigley, the retired Sky participant who gained the occasion 4 instances. Ionescu additionally holds the basketball file each mens and womens for many factors within the competitors.
And whereas Ionescu gained some money, she gained’t be conserving it. She stated she promised half to Mystics sharpshooter Sonia Citron as a result of she was the one rookie. The opposite half will go to Ionescu’s basis.
Wheeler didn’t make it simple for Cloud to win the abilities problem. The Seattle Storm level guard ran the course in 37.5 seconds. Cloud went second, and the clock ticked down as she obtained near the ultimate shot, a layup. Wheeler ran onto the court docket and instantly hugged Cloud when she gained it with simply 1.1 seconds left. Ionescu ran onto the court docket to congratulate her teammate, however Cloud saved her largest hug for Isabelle Harrison, her teammate in New York and girlfriend.
Cloud stated earlier than she competed that she was doing the competitors for Harrison.
Its been a blessing for our careers to collide in New York. She informed me I gotta win for a down cost on the home, so that you gonna get that home! Cloud stated to ESPN after the win.
Grey performed with Aja Wilson at South Carolina, and so they have been shut mates since their days in Columbia. On Friday evening, as Grey tried to repeat her double win from final seasons All-Star Weekend, she wore a customized pair of AOnes, Wilsons signature shoe. They have been inexperienced with gold greenback indicators everywhere in the sneakers.
Williams didnt make it to the ultimate within the Expertise Problem, however the pink-haired guard has nonetheless made a mark on the weekend in Indianapolis. Alongside along with her Lynx teammate Natisha Hiedeman, Williams has promised to stream on their Twitch channel, “Stud Budz,” for 72 hours. Theyve saved up their promise up to now, giving followers a behind-the-scenes have a look at events and practices.
With a file of 15-6, the Liberty are in second place behind the Minnesota Lynx within the standings. Nevertheless, theyre simply 5-5 of their previous 10 video games, and have cooled off since their undefeated run to start out the season. These particular person wins are a great reminder of how robust the Libertys roster is, and why they shouldn’t be neglected going into the second half of the season as they give the impression of being to repeat as WNBA champions.
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