Bay Area Stars Shine at WNBA All-Star Weekend

Local talent set for contests and showcase game

The Bay Area is making a significant presence at this year’s WNBA All-Star events, with several hometown favorites slated to compete in the 3-point contest, skills challenge, and the main game itself.

Ionescu Leads Local Charge in Shooting Contest

Walnut Creek’s own **Sabrina Ionescu** is among the five elite shooters vying for the 3-point crown. She aims to replicate her record-breaking 2023 performance, where she set a new WNBA and NBA single-round record with 37 points.

Ionescu, a star for the New York Liberty, was also selected as a starter for Team Clark. She will face off against former Stanford standout **Nneka Ogwumike** of the Seattle Storm, who is starting for Team Collier, captained by Lynx star **Napheesa Collier**.

Adding to the Bay Area flavor, Team Clark’s roster includes two exciting reserves: **Kiki Iriafen** from the Washington Mystics, a recent Stanford Cardinal standout, and **Kayla Thornton**, a forward for the Golden State Valkyries.

Clark Out of All-Star Events Due to Injury

In a developing story, **Caitlin Clark**, captain of one of the All-Star teams, announced Thursday she will be sidelined for the 3-point contest and the All-Star game. The Indiana Fever star is dealing with a groin injury that she aggravated earlier this week.

The 3-point contest and skills challenge are scheduled for Friday, July 18, at 5 p.m. PT, broadcast on ESPN. The WNBA All-Star game takes place Saturday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. PT on ABC, with streaming available on Disney+ and ESPN+.

Participant Lineups

3-Point Contest Participants:

• Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
• Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
• Lexie Hull, Indiana Fever (replacing Caitlin Clark)
• Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
• Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks

Skills Challenge Participants:

• Natasha Cloud, New York Liberty
• Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
• Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
• Erica Wheeler, Seattle Storm
• Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx

WNBA All-Star Game Rosters

Team Clark

Starters:

• Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
• Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
• Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream (replacing Satou Sabally)
• Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics (replacing Caitlin Clark)
• A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Reserves:

• Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
• Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics
• Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
• Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries
• Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
• Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Team Collier

Starters:

• Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
• Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
• Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
• Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
• Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Reserves:

• Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
• Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx (replacing Rhyne Howard)
• Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks
• Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
• Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
• Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx

As of the 2024 season, the WNBA has seen a significant increase in viewership, with average viewership up 30% over the previous year, highlighting the growing popularity of stars like **Ionescu** and **Clark**.