Jonquel Jones Wins All-Star MVP as Team Spoon Holds Off Team Coop in Chicago

CHICAGO – Jonquel Jones finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists Saturday night at the United Center, and Team Spoon held off Team Coop 129-122 in the WNBA All-Star Game.

Jones shot 8-of-17 from the field and 4-of-11 from 3-point range in 22 minutes. The 32-year-old New York Liberty center was named MVP. She is the first player to win league MVP, WNBA Finals MVP, Commissioner's Cup MVP, and All-Star MVP.

Her aunt's memorial service was held earlier Saturday in the Bahamas. Jones said at the postgame press conference that she spoke with her family and received their blessing before deciding to play.

"No matter what mood I'm in, basketball can pick me back up," Jones said, "and so just leaning into that."

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve coached Team Spoon and told Jones before a fourth-quarter substitution that she needed three more assists for a triple-double. Jones finished 2 assists short.

Team Spoon led by as many as 18 points. All 12 lead changes came in the first half, and the teams were tied once.

The two rosters combined to attempt 127 3-pointers and make 41. Team Spoon shot 20-of-61 from beyond the arc, 32.8%. Team Coop shot 21-of-66, 31.8%. Team Spoon outscored Team Coop 38-11 in fast break points, and Team Coop held a 58-56 edge in points in the paint.

Eight Team Spoon players scored in double figures. Allisha Gray had 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-9 from 3. Caitlin Clark had 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. Olivia Miles, the only rookie selected for the game, had 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists on 5-of-5 shooting. Courtney Williams had 12 points and 7 assists. Kiki Iriafen had 10 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Nneka Ogwumike had 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists on 5-of-6 shooting, and she passed Maya Moore for the most career points in WNBA All-Star Game history. Moore finished her career with 119.

Clark scored 11 points in the first 2½ minutes. Her opening three 3-pointers came from 28, 34, and 38 feet, according to the official play-by-play. The 24-year-old Indiana Fever guard went 5-of-15 from 3 and 6-of-17 overall. Last year's All-Star Game was held in Indianapolis, and Clark missed it with a groin injury.

"Last year really stunk, especially with it being in our home city. You never want to miss that, and you never want to miss it for the fans," Clark said. "I love showing up, competing, and playing."

With 6:24 left in the second quarter, Dominique Malonga caught a pass from Angel Reese and dunked. The 20-year-old Seattle Storm center, listed at 6-foot-6, finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. It was the first dunk in a WNBA All-Star Game since Sylvia Fowles in 2022. Lisa Leslie dunked in 2005, Jones in 2017, and Brittney Griner in 2019.

Paige Bueckers, who had 12 points and 7 assists for Team Coop, was asked about the play at the postgame press conference.

"She makes it look easy," Bueckers said. "Thankfully she was on my team, so I got to see it up close and personal."

Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, and she added 5 steals. Marina Mabrey had 23 points and scored all of them before halftime. Mabrey went 6-of-7 in the first quarter, 5-of-6 of it from 3, for 17 points. She is the first All-Star in Toronto Tempo history, and on June 25 she matched the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points against the Los Angeles Sparks.

"I saw a few shots go down early, and that's kind of my thing," Mabrey said. "If they're falling, keep shooting them."

Gabby Williams had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Breanna Stewart had 6 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. Reese had 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 9 minutes. Sonia Citron went 3-of-3 for 8 points.

A'ja Wilson had 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting. In the second quarter, backing away from Reese in transition with her arms raised, Wilson blocked Reese's driving layup.

"Angel was not supposed to do that. I was trying to get out of the way. I do not like to block shots during All-Star games because, what am I doing?" Wilson said. "So no, that's never happened to me before, and I'm so sorry."

Team Spoon used a coach's challenge in the third quarter on an out-of-bounds call against Clark. The call was confirmed.

"I knew the ball was clearly off my hand, but honestly, I just needed a break," Wilson said. "I was testing to make sure the refs were on point."

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said during All-Star Weekend that the league will implement a centralized replay center next season. Wilson and Ogwumike were both asked about it Saturday night.

"Yeah, we need more replays," Wilson said. "I think we do a great job, but we just need better camera angles. We need more camera angles."

Attendance was 19,783, a sellout and the largest crowd for a WNBA All-Star Game. The 2022 game, the last one held in Chicago, was played at Wintrust Arena.

Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the two rosters from starters voted in by fans, media, and players, and from reserves selected by the league's coaches. Aces coach Becky Hammon coached Team Coop. Reeve coached Team Spoon.

Leslie attended the game. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and former NBA guard Dwyane Wade were also there.

Kelsey Plum was listed as inactive for Team Coop with a lower left leg injury.