Alexa PhilippouESPNJ16. Jul 2023 01:05 ET3 minutes read
LAS VEGAS — Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd set a WNBA All-Star Game scoring record with 31 points, earned MVP honors and helped Team Stewart to a 143-127 win over Team Wilson on Saturday.
Loyd, who started the game as the league’s top scorer at 25.7 points per game, scored 31 points, all from outside the archway, and hit a record 10 3-pointers (including a 4-pointer, a special feature of the last All-Star Games). ). She said winning the award was her goal and dedicated the performance to her parents, who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday.
“I didn’t have a present for her anniversary, so I think that will be acceptable,” Loyd said. “I hope it is.”
Loyd’s performance helped Team Stewart to an all-star record, surpassing Team Wilson’s 134 points last year.
The former Notre Dame star and 2015 No. 1 overall winner took on an even bigger role for the Storm this summer after Breanna Stewart joined the New York Liberty and Sue Bird retired. The Storm sit last in WNBA standings with a record of 4-16.
“I knew things were going to be different when I came back to Seattle, so I probably prepared as hard as I’ve ever done, knowing that physically and mentally I was just going to need it,” Loyd said. “But at the same time I try to stay as present as possible. I try not to think too much ahead or worry about something I can’t really control and stay ten toes down.”
Notably, Loyd was presented with a much bigger MVP trophy last season than the league, which honored 2022 All-Star Game MVP Kelsey Plum, an omission that prompted derision from players and fans alike in the aftermath.
Plum of the Las Vegas Aces finished with 30 points, matching the points total from last summer’s event and becoming the first player to score that many points in multiple All-Star games. Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and Aces’ A’ja Wilson each finished Saturday with 20 points.
Team Stewart’s victory leveled the All-Star Game series against Team Wilson 1-1 as Wilson’s side clinched the win in Chicago last summer.
“I have to say we worked on ball screens in practice yesterday,” Stewart said of the seriousness of her team’s approach. “We did a lot.”
More important than the result for the players was the presence of Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner, who shone with 18 points, including two dunks, and 13 rebounds. Team Stewart’s first pick, Griner was named an All-Star starter for her outstanding performance in her freshman season after being held in Russia for nearly 10 months.
Last year at halftime in the All-Star Game, players changed into jerseys with Griner’s name and number (42) to honor their colleague who missed the entire WNBA season in Russian custody. This time, Griner earned a rousing ovation from the Las Vegas crowd at the players’ introduction and showed her usual playful personality by challenging the Aces’ Chelsea Gray to slap her on the floor from the wing as she emerged from the dressing room at halftime came to challenge the show to film Kehlani’s performance with her wife Cherelle, who stood by her side and even ate a snow cone on the bench in the second half.
“I’m just happy to be here in this building,” Griner said. “All-Star is just a great time where we can all be together. Just to be here with them after everything they have done to support me during one of the most difficult times is just everything to be here.”
Griners Team Stewart teammate and Los Angeles Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike, also WNBPA President, added, “It’s always wonderful to have BG on the court. I think everyone can say they agree with that. BG, one thing about her is that she always is.” I’ll do it with her. She brings the love, she brings the excitement and she just knows how to make everyone feel special and that’s something we wanted to do for her. I’d much rather play with her than against her, but I’m very glad that I hope she had a really good all-star as well.