Las Vegas played host to the 2023 WNBA All-Star Weekend, the hometown of the defending WNBA Champions Las Vegas Aces. In addition to the game that took place on July 15, 2023, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena, the weekend was packed with a roster of activities including the “WNBA Live” fan festival, the Skills Challenge, and a 3-point contest.
Ahead of the weekend’s festivities, Team Captain and Aces’ star A’Ja Wilson spoke with EBONY about hosting the All-Star weekend in Las Vegas.
“It's definitely a blessing to be chosen as captain and to play alongside my teammates as well,” Wilson said. “So we have a great locker room. We had a great vibe in practice today. I felt good.”
Wilson also shared about partnering with Starry, who sponsored the 3-point contest and activations throughout the weekend.
“It's been super dope being a part of the Starry family, they have been taking care of us making sure that we have activated to connect with our fans,” she said. "I think that's the biggest thing that a story does is building a bridge between athletes and their fans. They've done everything from having the 3-point contest, adding the Starry range, and having pop-up shops so that people can come and spend time with all of us here."
Just in case you missed the epic weekend, here are our Top 5 Moments From The 2023 WNBA All-Star Weekend.
Jewell Lloyd Wins The MVP With Record-Breaking Performance
Seattle Storm superstar Jewell Loyd had herself a game. The “Gold Mamba” set a WNBA All-Star Game scoring record with 31 points, leading Team Stewart to a 143-127 victory over Team Wilson, and winning the MVP title before a sold-out capacity crowd. As the current leader with 25.7 points per game, she knocked down a record ten 3-pointers and one 4-pointer, a nice addition to the annual event. Loyd was aiming to score 40 points in honor of her parent's 40th anniversary. After the game, she dedicated her performance to her parents
"I didn't have a gift for their anniversary, so I think this will be acceptable," Loyd said. "I hope it is."
Brittney Griner Makes In Her Triumphant Return To The All-Star Game
Watching Brittney Griner play the game she loves, after being detained in Russia last year, was a site to behold. Griner, who was selected as an honorary All-Star last season, was totally in her bag during the game. She was mic’d up and gave hilarious commentary as she finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, and added a slam dunk for good measure.
Kehlani Gives An Electric Halftime Performance
An All-Star Game is only as good as its halftime show, and the WNBA delivered. Two Grammy-Award winner, Kehlani, brought all the vibes with an electric halftime performance that celebrated the power of women. The Oakland native slayed the crowd with a medley of her hits including “Distraction” which was definitely a favorite.
Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum Win The Skills Challenge
One of the most highly anticipated events of the weekend is the skills challenge. Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum of the Aces defeated Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot of the Liberty. During the event, players had their shooting and dribbling abilities tested on an obstacle course. This year, the format was changed to a team competition featuring four pairs of All-Star teammates. In a hard-fought battle, Gray and Plum edged out Ionescu (who won the 3-point contest with a record-breaking performance) and Vandersloot.
The Orange Carpet Showcased The Players' Best Looks
The AT&T All-Star Weekend’s orange carpet was one for the books. The All-Stars came through to show off their outfits for the world to see. From custom suits and stylish dresses, the WNBA players were the center of attention.
