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Connecticut Sun forward Shekinna Stricklen wins All-Star 3-Point Contest

By Nicholas Niendorf

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 26: Shekinna Stricklen #40 of the Connecticut Sun accepts the award from Cathy Engelbert after winning the three-point contest during the 2019 WNBA MTN Dew Three-Point Contest on July 26, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 26: Shekinna Stricklen #40 of the Connecticut Sun accepts the award from Cathy Engelbert after winning the three-point contest during the 2019 WNBA MTN Dew Three-Point Contest on July 26, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Connecticut Sun forward Shekinna Stricklen hoisted the trophy after a competition of narrow margins.

Shekinna Stricklen of the Connecticut Sun won the 2019 All-Star 3-point contest Friday night.

Stricklen, who has shot 40% from deep so far this season, took home the trophy after two thinly-decided rounds.

“This is big,” Stricklen said after the contest. “I’m still kind of in shock.”

Las Vegas Aces guard Kayla McBride, who finished second in last year’s competition, opened up with an impressive 22-point outing despite a slow start.

“I’m still in shock about the first round. I didn’t think 21 was enough,” Stricklen said. “I really was pushing to 25, 27 because she’s in hometown, she’s got the crowd. I really had a feeling she was going to get hot.”

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Erica Wheeler of the Indiana Fever struggled to follow up McBride’s opening hand, scoring just 12 points. Kia Nurse of the New York Liberty and Chelsea Gray of the Los Angeles Sparks also failed to get in rhythm in the opening round, notching 14 and eight points, respectively.

Stricklen, who is second in the league in 3-point field goal makes, was locked in from the word go on Friday night. McBride’s first round output was too much for the eight-year veteran to eclipse, but her point total was enough to hang on and advance to the next round.

Defending champ and 3-point contest record holder Allie Quigley finished her round strong with 19 points, but the Chicago Sky guard fell just short of advancing to the finals to battle for the title.

Stricklen had just a short breather before kicking off the finals of the contest, but the sharpshooter proved that her legs still had plenty of bounce left in them. She scored a 23 points on a scorching performance that would eventually net her the win.

McBride had a chance to steal the night on her final rack, but did not connect on two of her shots, ending with 22 points and another runner-up finish.

Stricklen won $10,000 from the competition to go towards a charity of her choice. She chose to donate her winnings to Room 29:11, an organization dedicated to supplying essential items to foster parents.

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