On Friday, July 18, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the WNBA All‑Star Weekend kicked off with fan-favorite events—the Kia Skills Challenge and the STARRY 3‑Point Contest—delighting thousands of enthusiastic fans.
In the first marquee event, New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud claimed the Kia Skills Challenge, edging out Seattle’s Erica Wheeler by just 1.1 seconds. Cloud blitzed through the timed obstacle course, featuring dribbling, passing, and shooting elements, finishing in under 37.5 seconds and earning $55,000 for her effort. The win was especially sweet for Cloud, who was not selected for the All‑Star Game this year. She dedicated her prize toward a down payment on a house she shares with Liberty teammate Isabelle Harrison, sharing a celebratory kiss courtside. Cloud reflected on her journey, saying, “I’m meant to be here… whether I get the flowers or not, I do my job”.
Following Cloud’s victory, her teammate Sabrina Ionescu took center stage in the 3‑Point Contest. Ionescu fired 30 points in the final round—including an impressive streak of 11 straight makes—surpassing defending champion Allisha Gray. This victory marked Ionescu’s second WNBA 3‑Point title, tying for the second-highest score in contest history Despite a few “easy ones” she felt she missed, she was proud of the performance and credited her mental resilience.
Displaying generosity and team spirit, Ionescu fulfilled a pre-contest promise by splitting her prize money. Half will go to rookie Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics for her courage in competing; the other half supports Ionescu’s SI20 Foundation. Citron, who was the only rookie in the field, scored 19 points in the first round and bowed out early—but her participation was widely praised.
The double sweep by Liberty stars became a rare occurrence in league history: it was the first time two different players from the same team—Cloud and Ionescu—won both contests, marking only the second team sweep ever (the first was Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray in 2024).
Beyond the thrilling performances, the evening’s atmosphere was electric, with a capacity crowd of over 15,000 fans cheering on both competitors and alumni. Iconic figures like Sue Bird, Lisa Leslie, Megan Rapinoe, and Pau Gasol were present, adding star power to the festivities.
This year’s WNBA All‑Star Game, set for Saturday, July 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET, will spotlight several new rules meant to boost pace and excitement. These include four designated 4‑point shot zones set 28 feet from the basket, a shortened 20‑second shot clock, live substitutions in the backcourt, and no free throws until the final two minutes or overtime.
Friday’s excitement set the stage for an unforgettable All‑Star weekend: the Liberty teammates’ sweep showcased elite talent and camaraderie, while the introduction of bold house rules promises a high‑energy Saturday showdown.
