WNBA All-Star 2023

BY Erin Law

On the heels of the NBRPA’s annual Legends Summer Getaway and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Legends and basketball fans alike kept the hoops hype alive for WNBA All-Star, hosted by the defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces.

On Friday July 14th, the NBRPA tipped off the weekend by inviting WNBA Legends Ticha Penicheiro, Monique Currie and Chasity Melvin, plus multimedia journalist Ari Chambers, to record a special episode of the Legends Podcast –– WNBA All-Star edition. The conversation was in-depth and wide-ranging, from the history and growth of the league to some of their most memorable playing days stories, and of course, the impact of Legends on today's game. (Watch the full episode on the NBA Alumni YouTube channel or listen by searching “Legends Studios” wherever you get your podcasts.)

Later that day, NBRPA members and WNBA fans gathered to watch the KIA WNBA Skills Challenge and the Starry 3-Point Contest. The Las Vegas Aces’ duo of Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum won the Skills Challenge, beating teams made up of tandems from Atlanta, Dallas and New York.

In the finals of the 3-Point Contest, New York’s Sabrina Ionescu topped Sami Whitcomb and Arike Ogunbowale with a near-perfect 37 out of 40 points. Ionescu made 23 of 25 shots, including 20 in a row at one point, posting the highest score ever in the event by either an NBA or WNBA player. WNBA Legends sat courtside to enjoy both events, mingling with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert and fellow WNBA and NBA Legends in attendance.

The following morning, before the WNBA All-Star Game, the NBRPA brought together the WNBA family for the Legends Alumni Brunch hosted by Rushia Brown and Sylvia Crawley, in partnership with Tall Girls United. WNBA Legends caught up over breakfast and mimosas, then passed a microphone around the room so each woman could share an update on their personal lives, business ventures, and more. The intimate and emotional brunch culminated with business cards being exchanged, hugs being given, and a group outing to the All-Star Game.

The 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game tipped off on Saturday, July 15 at 5:30pm PT at Michelob ULTRA Arena. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty were selected as captains for the All-Star game for the second consecutive year.

WNBA Legends Becky Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, and Stephanie White, head coach of the Connecticut Sun, qualified to be the two head coaches for the 2023 All-Star Game after guiding their teams to the top two spots in the league standings as of that date.

Team Stewart defeated Team Wilson (143-127) and Jewell Loyd was crowned the All-Star MVP after an All-Star record 31-point performance with an All-Star record ten three-pointers made.

WNBA Legends Ashley Battle, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Sheryl Swoopes and Sue Bird sat together courtside during the game, forming an iconic Mount Rushmore of WNBA royalty that had fans and media clamoring for photo ops. NBA greats including Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis also showed their support in the crowd.

The NBRPA hosted an exclusive suite for WNBA Legends and current players to enjoy premium hospitality before and during the game, bringing together multiple generations of the league’s finest to enjoy the WNBA All-Star game as a tightknit sisterhood.

Following the game, the NBRPA presented the WNBA All-Star Legends Players Party, hosted by Ari Chambers, at Libertine Social in Mandalay Bay. Chambers conducted lively interviews with WNBA Legends in attendance, as well as notable sports figures and influencers. There’s no better way to close out WNBA All-Star than with a private gathering of the WNBA family, and this year’s party definitely raised the bar for years to come.

WNBA All-Star Weekend is an annual celebration of basketball like none other, bringing together the basketball world and displaying the growth and strength of the WNBA past, present and future. We look forward to another memorable WNBA All-Star in 2024 –– hosted by the 2007, 2009 and 2014 WNBA Champions, the Phoenix Mercury!

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