An eclectic group of contributors will vie for the Kia WNBA Expertise Problem and WNBA STARRY 3-Level Contest trophies at WNBA All-Star 2024 on Friday, July 19 in Phoenix.
The 5 gamers who will showcase their dribbling, passing and capturing skills will probably be:
- Sophie Cunningham (Phoenix Mercury)
- Allisha Grey (Atlanta Dream)
- Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
- Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Solar)
- Erica Wheeler (Indiana Fever)
A brand new 3-point queen will probably be topped amongst 5 contenders:
- Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics)
- Allisha Grey (Atlanta Dream)
- Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
- Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Solar)
- Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx)
Whereas Grey and Mabrey will try to finish the Expertise-3-Level double, Cunningham and Griner will undoubtedly will benefit from the help of the Footprint Heart crowd through the Expertise Problem. Though Dolson at present leads the league in 3-point proportion (48.5 p.c), McBride doubtless enters as the favourite, as she has made probably the most 3-pointers to date this season (76). On Thursday, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike introduced that Aflac will current a $55,000 bonus to the winners of each contests, offering an additional dose of motivation for all contributors.
As President of @TheWNBPA, I’m thrilled to announce that @Aflac, identified for its supplemental insurance coverage, is stepping up in an unbelievable strategy to help our Gamers. Aflac is supplementing the league’s pay with a $55,000 bonus for every of the winners of the abilities problem and…
— Nneka Ogwumike (@nnekaogwumike) July 18, 2024
Listed below are Swish Attraction’s predictions for who will prevail on Friday night time:
Who will win the 2024 WNBA Expertise Problem?
Who’s received it within the bag?
Brittney Griner, Sophie Cunningham, Allisha Grey, Marina Mabrey and Erica Wheeler will take the stage to compete within the 2024 KIA WNBA Expertise Problem!
Don’t miss it. Friday at 9pm/ET on ESPN #KiaSkills pic.twitter.com/gUGh2RH05w
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 18, 2024
Cat Ariail: Though the Kia Expertise Problem trophy doubtless was not the {hardware} the Connecticut Solar prioritized when swinging a commerce for Marina Mabrey earlier this week, the competition will enable Mabrey to indicate off the abilities that she’s going to deliver to the Solar and their chase for the franchise’s first championship. Mabrey’s aggressive fireplace, which is able to match proper in with Connecticut’s core, additionally ought to serve her nicely in a problem the place, as a rule, the participant who competes with depth and aggressiveness comes out on high.
Edwin Garcia: For the Kia Expertise Problem, I believe you want a flexible guard with the velocity to get by means of the course the quickest. Primarily based on that assumption, I’m going with Grey. She has the velocity, shouldn’t have hassle making the pictures and can shortly get by means of the course. Mabrey and Griner may also be good candidates to win with Mabrey being an elite guard and Griner having the house crowd behind her, however give me Grey and I like my probabilities.
Eric Nemchock: I’m with Edwin on this one. Grey has been one of many WNBA’s extra underrated gamers for some time now, however her recreation doesn’t actually have any weaknesses, and I believe that makes her candidate to win the Expertise Problem. She’s about as regular as they arrive along with her all-around contributions and undoubtedly isn’t missing as a shooter or driver. It’s a timed contest, however Grey is a lot athletic sufficient, and she or he’s additionally a participant who not often makes errors and is persistently levelheaded on the court docket, so I believe that will probably be of profit to her right here.
Who will win the 2024 WNBA 3-Level Contest?
CA: In 2021, Jonquel Jones superior to the ultimate spherical of the 3-Level Contest, almost besting three-time champion Allie Quigley. Jones made 27 3s within the preliminary spherical and 24 within the remaining. Whereas totals don’t fairly method the insane numbers posted by Quigley throughout her reign or Sabrina Ionescu final yr, they’re greater than ok to recommend she will take the title in 2024. That Jones shoots the 3-ball with easy ease, losing little additional vitality, evokes additional confidence within the skill of the 6-foot-6 former MVP to turn into to the primary huge to win the competition.
EN: Kayla McBride is having an outstanding yr capturing the ball. Not solely does she lead the WNBA in 3-pointers made with 74, however she’s the one participant within the league with at the least 150 3-point makes an attempt to be capturing at the least 40 p.c on them—42.7 p.c, to be actual. Mechanically, McBride has the form of fast launch on her jumpshot (considerably paying homage to Quigley’s) that lends itself to success in this kind of competitors, and given how good she’s been in precise video games this season, I wouldn’t be shocked if she saved it rolling and received her first-ever 3-Level Contest.
EG: I’ve discovered a very long time in the past to not underestimate Stefanie Dolson. She’s at present capturing nearly 50 p.c on 3-point pictures and is doing so on 4.2 makes an attempt per recreation. I’m involved that the time constraints will make it tough for her to shortly undergo all of the balls whereas staying in her rhythm, however I received’t be late for the Dolson prepare. You may ebook it: she would be the new 3-point champion of the WNBA.
