2021 WNBA All-Star Game
VisitorTeam USA
HomeTeam WNBA All-Stars
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DateJuly 14, 2021
ArenaMichelob Ultra Arena
CityLas Vegas, Nevada
MvpArike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings)[1]
RefereesKurt Walker, Jeffrey Smith, Angelica Suffern
Attendance5,175
NetworkUnited States: ESPN
Canada: TSN3/5/SN
Prev year2019
Next year2022
Wnbayes

The 2021 WNBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on July 14, 2021. The Las Vegas Aces hosted the WNBA All-Star Game for the second time.[2][3] This game was the first since 2000 to be held in the same year as the Summer Olympic Games, as the WNBA did not hold All-Star Games in four previous Summer Olympic years.[3]

Rosters

Selection

On June 16, the WNBA announced that 2021 would have a similar roster selection process to the 2018 and 2019 All-Star games. Fans, WNBA players, head coaches, sports writers, and broadcasters would all be able to vote for All Stars. All groups could fill out a ballot of four guards and six front court players. Players and coaches could not vote for members of their own team. Voting began on June 15 at 2 p.m. EDT and ended on June 27 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. There were two days where fans could have their votes count twice, June 20 and June 27.[2]

The voting was weighted as follows:

Voting groupVote weight
Fans50%
WNBA players25%
Sports media25%

Players were not allowed to vote for their own teammates. The top 36 vote-getters would be selected as All-Stars. There will be a minimum of 9 backcourt players and 15 frontcourt players selected. Of these 36, WNBA Head Coaches will select 12 players to make up Team WNBA All-Stars. These twelve players will compete against members of the US Olympic Team. The WNBA All-Star roster was announced on June 30, 2021.[2][4]

All-Star Pool

The players for the All-Star Game were selected by the voting process described above. Rosters were released on June 30, 2021.[5]

Eastern Conference All-Stars
PosPlayerTeamNo. of selections
Players
GAriel AtkinsWashington Mystics1
GKahleah CopperChicago Sky1
GCourtney VanderslootChicago Sky3
GCourtney WilliamsAtlanta Dream1
G/FBetnijah LaneyNew York Liberty1
FDeWanna BonnerConnecticut Sun4
FBrionna JonesConnecticut Sun1
F/CJonquel JonesConnecticut Sun3
F/CCandace ParkerChicago Sky6
CTina CharlesWashington Mystics8
Western Conference All-Stars
PosPlayerTeamNo. of selections
Players
GSue BirdSeattle Storm12
GSkylar Diggins-SmithPhoenix Mercury5
GChelsea GrayLas Vegas Aces4
GJewell LoydSeattle Storm3
GArike OgunbowaleDallas Wings1
GDiana TaurasiPhoenix Mercury10
FNapheesa CollierMinnesota Lynx2
FDearica HambyLas Vegas Aces1
FSatou SaballyDallas Wings1
FBreanna StewartSeattle Storm3
FA'ja WilsonLas Vegas Aces3
CLiz CambageLas Vegas Aces4
CSylvia FowlesMinnesota Lynx7
CBrittney GrinerPhoenix Mercury7

All-Star Selections per team

Number of All-Star players per team
TeamNumber of players
Atlanta Dream1
Chicago Sky3
Connecticut Sun3
Indiana Fever0
New York Liberty1
Washington Mystics2
Dallas Wings2
Las Vegas Aces4
Los Angeles Sparks0
Minnesota Lynx2
Phoenix Mercury3
Seattle Storm3

Final rosters

Team USA
PosPlayerTeamNo. of selections
Starters
FBreanna StewartSeattle Storm3
FA'ja WilsonLas Vegas Aces3
CBrittney GrinerPhoenix Mercury7
GJewell LoydSeattle Storm3
GSue BirdSeattle Storm12
Reserves
GAriel AtkinsWashington Mystics1
GSkylar Diggins-SmithPhoenix Mercury5
GChelsea GrayLas Vegas Aces4
GDiana TaurasiPhoenix Mercury10
FNapheesa CollierMinnesota Lynx2
CTina CharlesWashington Mystics8
CSylvia FowlesMinnesota Lynx7
Head coach: Dawn Staley
Team WNBA
PosPlayerTeamNo. of selections
Starters
FDeWanna BonnerConnecticut Sun4
F/CJonquel JonesConnecticut Sun3
CCandace ParkerChicago Sky6
GArike OgunbowaleDallas Wings1
GCourtney VanderslootChicago Sky3
Reserves
GKahleah CopperChicago Sky1
GCourtney WilliamsAtlanta Dream1
G/FBetnijah LaneyNew York Liberty1
FDearica HambyLas Vegas Aces1
FBrionna JonesConnecticut Sun1
FSatou SaballyDallas Wings1
CLiz CambageLas Vegas Aces4
Head coach: Lisa Leslie & Tina Thompson

Starters will be announced by the respective head coaches of the USA Basketball Women's National Team and Team WNBA.[2][6]

Three-Point Contest

On July 9, 2021, it was announced that a Three-Point Contest will be held during half time of the All-Star game. It was also announced that the Skills Challenge held in 2019 would not be held this year.[7]

Rules

The Three-Point Shootout is a two-round, timed competition in which five shooting locations are positioned around the three-point arc. Four racks contain four WNBA balls (each worth one point) and one “money” ball (worth two points). The fifth station is a special “all money ball” rack, which each participant can place at any of the five locations. Every ball on this rack is worth two points. Two balls were placed on pedestals between racks 2 and 3 and racks 3 and 4. Each of these balls is worth three points. The players have one minute and ten seconds to shoot as many of the 27 balls as they can. The two competitors with the highest scores in the first round advance to the championship round.[7]

Results

PositionPlayerFrom2021 Season 3-point statistics1st Round[8]2nd Round[8]
MadeAttemptedPercent
GAllie QuigleyChicago245940.7%2828
FJonquel JonesConnecticut317143.7%2724
GSami WhitcombNew York5612843.8%26–
GJewell LoydSeattle4010737.4%18–

References

  1. ^ "Arike Ogunbowale Wins All-Star MVP With 26 Points In Team WNBA Win (July 14, 2021)". wnba.com. WNBA. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Official Release (June 14, 2021). "AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 Returns to Las Vegas July 14". WNBA.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Salvador, Joseph (June 14, 2021). "WNBA All-Star Game Will Return July 14 With New Spin Including Team USA Basketball". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Maloney, Jack (June 15, 2021). "WNBA All-Star 2021: League sets date for game, which will feature unique Team USA vs. Team WNBA format". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 on July 14". wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  6. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (June 14, 2021). "WNBA All-Star Game set for July 14 in Las Vegas with new format pitting Team USA against Team WNBA". ESPN. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "WNBA Mtn Dew 3-PT Contest Contestants Announced". wnba.com. WNBA. July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Sky's Allie Quigley Wins Third MTN DEW 3-Point Contest". wnba.com. WNBA. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.