Allisha Gray of Atlanta, the first player to win 3-point and skills competitions at the WNBA All-Star event

PHOENIX — Allisha Gray turned the opening night of WNBA All-Star weekend into her own show.

The Atlanta Dream point guard had a historic night, becoming the first player to win both the 3-point and skills competition in the same year on Friday.

“It’s really cool. Now I’m glad I took the call when they asked me to play both,” Gray said. “Now I have another $55,000 in my pocket.”

Gray received $2,575 from the league for each win, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. She also received $110,000 from Aflac as part of a partnership with the WNBPA.

She edged hometown favorite Sophie Cunningham of the Phoenix Mercury by just over 2 seconds in the skills competition final. Then she edged Jonquel Jones by one point in the 3-point shootout about 45 minutes later.

“I felt like I was warmed up after the skills challenge, running all over the court,” Gray said. “I was a little tired of the skills challenge, but I was stuck because I knew another $55,000 was at stake. ”

Jones wanted to become the first player to win the 3-point contest. She also reached the final in 2021 before losing to four-time champion Allie Quigley. Jones had a chance to win the contest, but his last shot – the two-point money shot – missed. She held her head in disappointment.

“(Jones) made me nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Gray admitted.

Jones scored 25 points in the opening round – the best among the five competitors. Gray had 23 points.

Neither defending champion Sabrina Ionescu nor sensational newcomer Caitlin Clark competed in the 3-point shootout this year. Ionescu will play for the USA at the Olympics and is focused on preparing for the Paris Games. Both will play in the All-Star Game on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET on ABC.

After playing virtually non-stop for nine months between college and the WNBA, Clark just wanted to relax.

“I think the biggest thing for me was, it was like I needed a break,” she said. “I’m going to take some time to enjoy what I want to do, and sometimes that can be the difficult situation I find myself in. But I think it was the healthiest thing for me.”

Brittney Griner was the only member of the US Olympic team who participated in any of the competitions. She finished the obstacle course in 46.3 seconds.

There was also a 3-on-3 exhibition game between the Paris Olympics-bound U.S. team and an under-23 team featuring top college players.

The Olympic team won the tight contest 19-16, with Rhyne Howard scoring the final eight points for the victors, hitting four 2-point shots. She finished the game by scoring 12 of the team’s 19 points.

The game is played with one- and two-point baskets for 10 minutes or until one team scores 21 points.

Marina Mabrey, who was traded from Chicago to Connecticut on Wednesday, he wore the Sun shirt for the first time. She and Gray participated in the skills competition and 3-point contest. Mabrey narrowly lost the skills contest final. She finished fifth in the 3-point contest with 19 points.

Ionescu and Becky Hammon won the skills challenge and 3-point competition in different years. Ionescu won the skills in 2022 and the 3-point contest last year. Hammon, current coach of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, won the skills in 2007 and the 3 points in 2009.

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