SEATTLE – Representing the Eastern Conference in her first WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday afternoon at KeyArena, Connecticut Sun center Jonquel Jones had 24 points, nine rebounds, three made three-pointers and one very memorable dunk in the closing minute.
“It was great to be able to go out there and play against some players that I’ve watched growing up, looking up to and now I’m on the same court as them,” Jones said. “It being my second season in the league, I didn’t expect this to happen so quickly so I just wanted to go out there and take advantage of the opportunity.”
All of that was not quite enough as the West hung on to beat the East 130-121.
Sun point guard Jasmine Thomas had eight points and eight assists for the East, and she also scored 10 points in the three-point shot contest, which was held at halftime.
Sun forward Alyssa Thomas made both of her attempts from the field, and also chipped in with one rebound and one assist in 14 minutes.
The East was coached by Curt Miller and his Sun staff.
“It was an honor to coach the East team,” Miller said at the post-game press conference. “We had a couple of goals when we came in with eight of the eleven first-time All-Stars— first and foremost to have a blast, to live in the moment and have fun.”
The Sun return to action Tuesday when they host the Chicago Sky at 7 p.m. Get tickets.
🙌🙌🙌 @JUS242 pic.twitter.com/exu219uqBF
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) July 22, 2017
☀️ x ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/0mElISaJiw
— Chiney Ogwumike (@Chiney321) July 22, 2017
Our coaches looking on the #W3Point contest. 👀 pic.twitter.com/IaRuLd8qu2
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) July 22, 2017