WNBA: Can Allisha Gray defend her Skills, 3-Point crowns?

The Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray will defend her Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest crowns at WNBA All-Star 2025 on Friday, July 18 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).

In the Skills Challenge, those seeking to take the titles—and prize money—from Gray are:

Natasha Cloud (New York Liberty)
Skylar Diggins (Seattle Storm)
Erica Wheeler (Seattle Storm)
Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx)

In the 3-Point Contest, Gray’s challengers will be:

Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics)
Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)
Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks)

Caitlin Clark’s highly-anticipated 3-Point Contest debut will be delayed, as the Indiana Fever star’s recurring groin injury will prevent her from participating in the event, in addition to Saturday’s game. (As of publication, the WNBA had not named a replacement.)

Just like last year, Aflac will be awarding the prize money to the winners, with the Skills victor earning $55,000 and the 3-Point champion receiving $60,000.

Can Gray complete the back-to-back double, keeping all the trophies and all the cash? Who has the skills and shot necessary to end her reign? Here’s a look at who has the best chance of triumphing in Indy:

Courtney Williams has clutch skills

Usually, the Skill Challenge is the uninspiring appetizer to the 3-Point Contest, as a handful of the participants often elect to approach the obstacle course with an absence of intensity.

This year, don’t expect that to be the case. The Skills Challenge field not only is stacked, but it is stacked with psychotic competitors who are sure to enter the event with seriousness. Maybe even too much seriousness.

The five participants will be required to demonstrate their dribbling, bounce passing, chest passing and outlet passing skills when completing the obstacle course, along with hitting an elbow jumper, top-of-the-key 3-pointer and corner 3. A Kia Sorento Hybrid will also be parked in the course as an additional obstacle. The two players will the fastest times in the first round will advance to the head-to-head final.

Skylar Diggins, certainly, will be determined to destroy her competition. However, she might be too hyped up, as it’s easy to see Diggins’ competitive adrenaline causing her to put too much oomph behind her moonball 3s. The 3s likewise are a concern for Natasha Cloud, as the poorest 3-pointer shooter among the participants could see her prize-winning prospects doomed by the deep balls. Erica Wheeler, in contrast, is enjoying the best shooting season of her career, giving her a strong chance to advance to the final. Gray, of course, should arrive with absolute confidence; not only does she have the experience edge, but her penchant for always playing at full speed is perfect preparation for zooming through the obstacle course.

Yet, Courtney Williams has the combination of cool, competitiveness and clutch to steal the crown. And Williams has never hesitated to admit that she’s motivated by some extra cash. After the Lunar Owls lost out on Unrivaled riches and the Lynx fumbled away the bag in the Commissioner’s Cup, Williams should be highly motivated to not let another cache of cash escape her clutches. On top of the extrinsic incentive, Williams’ talents should translate well. Her sleek ball skills and smooth shot suggests she can navigate the course with the right balance of swiftness and control. She also has a proven lack of fear in pressure moments, unfazed by making (or missing) big shots. Put all that together, and Williams can come out on top. (Plus, a Williams victory would produce the best Stud Budz content.)

Bet on “Steady Betty” Sonia Citron

One player in the 3-Point Contest as made 173 career 3-pointers playing for an Indiana team.

Yep, Sonia Citron drained that many triples across her four-season college career playing for South Bend, Indiana’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish. She shot 37 percent as collegian, a consistency she has carried with her into her debut WNBA season in DC. So far, she’s sunk 35 treys, doing so on a 3-point shot diet that sets her up for 3-Point Contest success.

While the majority of Citron’s 3s come on above-the-break attempts, she’s attempted 21 corner 3s in 2025, which is 11 more than any other participant. And, she’s converted nine of them, good for almost 43 percent. So, Citron is the best bet to cash in on the corner racks.

She also thrives as a spot-up shooter, in contrast to most of her competitors. While Sabrina Ionescu loves a deep transition running triple, Kelsey Plum feasts on pull-ups and Caitlin Clark, when healthy, wants to set up her stepback, Citron just catches and shoots in a manner that more closely mimics the off-the-rack contest format. For the season, 70 of her 96 3-point attempts have been spot-ups, and she’s hit 40 percent of them. Gray also is a spot-up maestro, hitting over 42 percent on 95 such shots. However, she’s only operated above the break, making none of her five corner 3-point attempts this season. Citron, in short, is the only entrant with the perfect 3-Point Contest package.

Of course, Gray has proven she can ignite from all the 3-Point Contest spots, as has all-time record holder Ionescu. But, the past two champs enter with a pressure to perform to their high standards that the nonchalant Citron will be immune to, situating the rookie to sneak away with the 3-Point Contest prize.

Event information

When: Friday, July 18 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN

How to watch: ESPN