July 19, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Dream player Allisha Gray participates in a skills challenge during WNBA All-Star Skills Night at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray became the first player to win the 3-point shooting contest and skills challenge in the same year Friday night when she took home the win in competitions in Phoenix a night before the WNBA All-Star Game.
Gray won $115,150 in prize money, including $110,000 from Aflac and $5,150 from the WNBA. The Aflac insurance company promised $55,000 to the winner of each event on Thursday.
It made for a very good night of earnings for Gray, who has a base salary of $185,000 this season.
Gray scored 22 points in the final three-point contest. Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty scored 21, with his final shot bouncing off the basket.
“I was nervous because she had a series of shots,” said Gray, who made 300 regular-season three-pointers in her career. “JJ is a great three-point shooter. I even told her before, I was like, ‘I know your shot game. I know you’re going to go out there and tear it up.’”
“But when she got to that last shot and it was pretty close and she missed it, it was like a sigh of relief because she’s a great shooter.”
Indiana Fever freshman Caitlin Clark declined an invitation to participate in the 3-point contest.
In the skills competition, Gray won with a time of 32.1 seconds, edging out Sophie Cunningham (34.5) of the Phoenix Mercury.
Gray, 29, is averaging 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24 games this season, her eighth in the WNBA. She has made 41 three-pointers, including a career-best six against the Las Vegas Aces on May 31.
Erica Wheeler of Indiana missed the skills competition because her flight was canceled.
–Field level media
