It was a ballin’ weekend in Phoenix, Ariz.
Numerous celebrities, athletes and fans flocked to the desert to support the ladies competing in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at the Footprint Center.
The festivities kicked off on Friday with Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray making history by winning both the WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest and the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge. The South Carolina Gamecocks alum walked away with a combined prize totaling over $115,000 – over half her yearly salary.
“Maybe I’ll go on a little golfing spree, shopping spree,” Gray, 29, told ESPN’s Holly Rowe, when asked what she plans to do with the money from the WNBA and Aflac.
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Saturday’s main event was a matchup between Team WNBA – consisting of standouts like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Nneka Ogwumike and more – and the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, who will be competing in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
Celebrity attendees included Vanessa Bryant, Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird and Aubrey Plaza. The “Parks and Recreation” alum still sat courtside for the game despite tearing her ACL during a “hearty game of knockout” at the new Phoenix Mercury practice facility.
“Nothing can stop us! Thank you @wnba for hosting such an amazing weekend and taking such good care of me and my busted knee,” Plaza, 40, later wrote via Instagram, with followers in the comments section calling her a “legend,” “athlete” and “true baller.”
Many fans specifically traveled to Phoenix over the weekend to watch former collegiate (and now-pro) rivals Clark and Reese put their differences aside and play together on the same team for the first time.
Reese told ESPN she was “looking forward” to wearing the same jersey as Clark for the All-Star game.
“That’s what everybody wants to see. Everybody can wear their ‘get along’ shirts together for one day, at least,” she joked. “I know a lot of people are going to come and watch us … but there’s a lot of talent within both rosters of the teams, so they’re in for a good one.”
The Chicago Sky star, 22, later spoke highly of Clark in a post-game interview.
“She’s been great to play with,” she said of the Indiana Fever athlete, also 22. “The future, we’re gonna be playing with each other a lot. Hopefully in four years we can be Olympians together.”
In an unforgettable second half, Team WNBA beat out the Olympic team – made up of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and more – with a final score of 117-109. It marked the second time this has happened, as Team WNBA also won in 2021 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
Taurasi, who will be making a record sixth straight Olympic appearance later this month, was overheard speaking with her fellow teammates in a huddle following the loss. “This s–t f–king sucks,” the Phoenix Mercury star, 42, admitted. “It’s a good reminder, we gotta come to play no matter who we are.”
Per ESPN, the US has never lost an Olympic game that Taurasi has competed in and hopes to continue that streak when the 2024 team competes in France later this month and into August.
Following Saturday’s game, athletes kept the celebrations going by hitting up various hot spots in Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Pvnew was invited to a VIP “Ladies Night” afterparty at North Italia, where we spotted WNBA stars like Paige Bueckers, Michaela Onyenwere, Arike Ogunbowale, Chiney, Sydney Colson and more vibin’ out to sounds by DJ Ria and DJ Bova.
Guests noshed on North Italia favorites – like the Guanciale Pizza, Ricotta & Mozzarella Tortelloni and chicken, steak and shrimp Spiedini – throughout the evening while sipping on speciality cocktails – ranging from a Sicilian margarita to an espresso martini – made with Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino tequila.
The night was an extra special one for Ogunbowale, who set a WNBA All-Star Game record with 34 points and nabbed her second All-Star Game MVP accolade just hours before the bash kicked off.
Rapper and LSU basketball star Flau’Jae gave the “Dancing With the Stars” alum, 27, a special shout-out while taking the mic to congratulate her on the milestone.
Other notable attendees at the invite-only afterparty (also sponsored by Fenty Beauty, MBG360 and Unrivaled) included Didi Richards, Toosii, Madison Bailey, Kyler Murray and Trey Benson.
