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Jul 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) shoots the ball against LA Sparks center Li Yueru (28) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner will be among those participating in the WNBA Skills Challenge on Friday night.
Griner will get to show off her skills in front of a friendly crowd, with this year’s All-Star festivities being held in Phoenix. She will go up against teammate Sophie Cunningham, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey and Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler.
Contestants will look to maneuver through an obstacle course as quickly as possible, having to dribble, make a bounce pass, make a chest pass and make an outlet pass along the way. They also have to display their shooting skills — an elbow jumper and 3-pointers from the top of the arc and the corner will be included in the course.
The two players with the fastest times in the first round will square off in the final.
Griner, 33, is averaging 18.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 15 games (all starts) for the Mercury this season. She is a 10-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones, the 2021 MVP, is set to make her second appearance in the 3-point contest. She finished as runner-up in the event back in 2021.
The Washington Mystics’ Stefanie Dolson and the Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride are set to oppose Jones. Gray and Mabrey are also in the 3-point contest.
Dolson currently leads the league in 3-point percentage at 48.5 percent.
–Field Level Media
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