WNBA All-Star 2025: 3-Point Contest & Skills Challenge Performance Review

WNBA Skills challenge: Gray, Williams, and Diggins Smith Show mixed Results

The WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge saw a variety of performances from its participants, with Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, and Skylar Diggins Smith all facing distinct hurdles in their quest for victory. While the competition showcased impressive athletic abilities, strategic execution proved to be the deciding factor.

Allisha Gray’s Early Exit:
Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray,a seasoned defender and reigning champion,experienced a disappointing outing. Moving with notable speed through the initial stages, Gray’s eagerness to advance led to a critical error. A missed chest pass at her first station required her to double back, costing her precious time. despite needing all three attempts to complete the task, her shooting remained strong. However, the time lost on the passing drill ultimately kept her from reaching the final round.

Courtney Williams’ Struggle:
Minnesota Lynx player courtney Williams also faced challenges. While her initial bounce passes were executed cleanly, the remainder of her round lacked the same precision. Williams encountered difficulties with her outlet passes and shooting, requiring multiple attempts on each. This resulted in a final time of 42.0 seconds, a mark slower then all but one othre competitor. With the All-Star Game on the horizon, Williams now has the prospect to refocus.

Skylar Diggins Smith’s Rule Misunderstanding:
Seattle Storm’s Skylar Diggins Smith’s performance highlighted a potential issue with the current skills challenge rules, a point of contention previously seen in the NBA. The rule allowing players to proceed without penalty after three missed shots or passes, irrespective of whether the final attempt is triumphant, led to Diggins Smith spending extra time on her shots from all three locations. While she eventually made each shot, the time invested in these attempts contributed to her being the slowest in the opening round, thus ending her challenge prematurely. This situation underscores a need for rule clarification or adjustment in future competitions to better reward consistent accuracy.

What impact did the change in basketball technology have on player performance in the Skills Challenge?

3-point Contest: A Night of Clutch Shooting

The 2025 WNBA All-Star 3-Point Contest delivered a thrilling spectacle, showcasing the league’s elite shooters. this year’s competition saw a surprising upset, with rookie sensation, Maya Evans of the Atlanta Dream, taking home the crown.

Round 1 Breakdown: Qualifying for the Finals

Eight All-Stars participated in the first round, each attempting five racks of five shots from designated spots around the three-point arc. Key performances included:

Maya Evans (Atlanta Dream): 24 points – Led all competitors, demonstrating remarkable composure for a first-year player.

Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm): 22 points – A consistent performance from the reigning scoring champion.

Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces): 21 points – Plum, a previous 3-point Contest participant, secured her spot in the finals with a strong showing.

Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty): 19 points – Despite a slow start, Ionescu rallied to qualify, showcasing her range.

Players eliminated in the first round included Jackie Young, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, and Alyssa Thomas. The competition was fierce, with only a few points separating those who advanced.

The Championship Round: Evans Steals the Show

The final three – Evans, Loyd, and Plum – battled it out in a single-round shootout. The pressure was palpable, but Evans remained unfazed.

Maya Evans: 26 points – A near-perfect performance, including a flawless final rack, secured her the championship.

Jewell Loyd: 23 points – A strong effort, but ultimately fell short against Evans’s hot shooting.

Kelsey Plum: 20 points – Plum struggled to find her rhythm in the final round.

Evans’s victory marks a meaningful moment for the Dream and solidifies her status as a rising star in the WNBA. Her performance highlighted the growing talent pool within the league and the increasing emphasis on perimeter shooting.

Skills Challenge: Ionescu Dominates,Setting a New Standard

Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty continued her reign as the WNBA’s skills queen,winning the 2025 Skills Challenge with a record-breaking time. The challenge tests players’ dribbling,passing,and shooting abilities,navigating a complex obstacle course.

Challenge Course Overview

The 2025 Skills Challenge course featured:

1. Dribbling Weave: Players navigated a series of cones, demonstrating ball-handling prowess.
2. Chest Pass Accuracy: Accurate chest passes to designated targets were crucial for minimizing time.
3. bank Shot Precision: Successfully making bank shots from three different spots on the court.
4. Full-Court Sprint & Layup: A sprint down the court culminating in a layup.

Ionescu’s Record-Breaking Run

Ionescu completed the course in a blistering 28.5 seconds, shattering the previous record by over a second. Her exceptional ball-handling, pinpoint passing, and confident shooting were on full display.

Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty): 28.5 seconds – A dominant performance, showcasing her all-around skills.

Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces): 30.2 seconds – Young put up a strong fight, but couldn’t match Ionescu’s speed and precision.

Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream): 31.8 seconds – Howard demonstrated impressive athleticism but struggled with the passing portion of the challenge.

The Impact of Ball Technology

Interestingly, a subtle change in the basketball used for the Skills Challenge this year – a slightly softer leather, as noted in recent reports [https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/561640528543975764.html] – appeared to contribute to improved grip and control, potentially aiding players’ performance. This is a developing area of interest for WNBA analysts.

Key Takeaways &