Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx was named 2017 WNBA All-Star Game MVP Saturday afternoon. Moore scored 23 points and added in three rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in 23 minutes.
Nneka Ogwumike had 22 points and 7 rebounds for the West, and Jonquel Jones led the East with 24 points and 9 rebounds.
Moore and Ogwumike led the way for the West statistically, and their intensity in setting a tone for the game was noted by West coach Cheryl Reeve post game:
"Yeah, that’s just Maya, andwhenever Maya is playing the game, she only knowsone way, whether it’s an All-Star Game or whether it’sGame 5 of The Finals, and that’s what makes herreally, really special. And like you said, in an All-StarGame, you get a little bit of different personalities outthere, different concepts, and Maya wants to win thegame. So I know she was happy, and I thought Nneka[Ogwumike] — Nneka is the same way. Nneka has anenergy about her, and that’s an attribute that makesthose players really, really special."
Local stars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart played well in their minutes for the West. Bird dished a game-high 11 assists to go with 8 points and five rebounds. Stewart finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
Four players scored in double-digits for the East. Layshia Clarendon of the Dream found her teammates for several easy buckets on her way to 14 points and 10 assists. Allie Quigley and Candice Dupree also scored 14 apiece, and Sugar Rodgers scored 10.
Candace Parker scored 13 for the West and Diana Taurasi electrified the crowd early on with some deep three pointers.
The 130 points for the West tied an All-Star game record. Some big names in attendance included Bill Russell, Penny Taylor, Megan Rapinoe, Isaiah Thomas, Richard Sherman and Lenny Wilkens. Three former Seattle SuperSonics players (Gus Williams, Fred Brown and Slick Watts) were also in attendance and drew a warm welcome from the fans.
Fans who stuck around until the very end were rewarded not just with an entertaining, close game. Jonquel Jones threw one down late in the fourth quarter:
WNBA regular season action resumes Tuesday; all 12 teams will be back in action.