PHOENIX — Allisha Gray became the first player in WNBA history to win the 3-point and skills competitions in the same year, capturing both titles Friday night.
The Atlanta Dream guard outlasted Jonquel Jones 22-21 in the 3-point shooting final after edging out Sophie Cunningham in the skills competition by just over 2 seconds.
Jones was looking to become the first post player to win the 3-point contest. She also made the final in 2021, before losing to four-time champion Allie Quigley. Jones had a chance to win the contest, but her final shot — the two-point money ball — fell short of the goal.
In the first round she scored 25 points, the best score among the five competitors. Gray scored 23 points.
Neither defending champion Sabrina Ionescu nor sensational rookie Caitlin Clark competed in the triples contest this year. Ionescu is playing for the United States at the Olympics and is focused on preparing for the Paris Games.
Brittney Griner was the only member of the U.S. Olympic team to compete in both events. She finished the steeplechase in 46.3 seconds.
There was also a 3-on-3 exhibition match between the U.S. team traveling to the Paris Olympics and an under-23 team featuring top college players.
The Olympic team won the close game 19-16, with Rhyne Howard scoring the last eight points for the winners, hitting four 2-point shots. She finished the game 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 the Chicago Sky to the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, wore a Sun jersey for the first time. She and Gray participated in both the skills competition and the 3-point shootout. Mabrey was on the cusp of making it to the skills competition finals.
Gray received $2,575 from the league for each win, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but also received $110,000 from Aflac as part of a partnership with the WNBPA. Gray's salary this season is $185,000.
