An eclectic group of individuals will vie for the Kia WNBA Abilities Problem and WNBA STARRY 3-Level Contest trophies at WNBA All-Star 2024 on Friday, July 19 in Phoenix.
The 5 gamers who will exhibit their dribbling, passing and capturing skills can 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 can 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 Abilities-3-Level double, Cunningham and Griner will undoubtedly will benefit from the assist of the Footprint Heart crowd in the course of the Abilities Problem. Though Dolson at present leads the league in 3-point proportion (48.5 p.c), McBride seemingly enters as the favourite, as she has made essentially the most 3-pointers up to now 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 individuals.
As President of @TheWNBPA, I’m thrilled to announce that @Aflac, recognized for its supplemental insurance coverage, is stepping up in an unbelievable strategy to assist 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 Enchantment’s predictions for who will prevail on Friday night time:
Who will win the 2024 WNBA Abilities Problem?
Who’s acquired 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 Abilities 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 Abilities Problem trophy seemingly was not the {hardware} the Connecticut Solar prioritized when swinging a commerce for Marina Mabrey earlier this week, the competition will permit 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 can match proper in with Connecticut’s core, additionally ought to serve her properly 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 Abilities Problem, I believe you want a flexible guard with the velocity to get via 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 via the course. Mabrey and Griner can even 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 possibilities.
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 an excellent candidate to win the Abilities 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 can 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 closing. Whereas totals don’t fairly strategy the insane numbers posted by Quigley throughout her reign or Sabrina Ionescu final yr, they’re greater than adequate to counsel she will take the title in 2024. That Jones shoots the 3-ball with easy ease, losing little additional power, conjures up additional confidence within the capability of the 6-foot-6 former MVP to change into to the primary large 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 precise. Mechanically, McBride has the type of fast launch on her jumpshot (considerably paying homage to Quigley’s) that lends itself to success in the sort of competitors, and given how good she’s been in precise video games this season, I wouldn’t be stunned 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 troublesome 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 guide it: she would be the new 3-point champion of the WNBA.
