In general, All-Star games aren't typically meant to be viewed or played as super serious offerings of women's basketball. There is definitely a hope that the games will be compeititive, and players often emphasize the need to balance having fun and putting on a show for fans. The WNBA's annual All-Star Game is no different.
But if the game was supposed to be relaxed, no one got that memo to Olivia Miles in time. Miles, the only rookie to land a spot on either All-Star team this year and only the 11th rookie to start in an All-Star Game in league history, very nearly racked up a triple-double during last night's game—the same game that A'ja Wilson only scored 12 points in.
That's not remotely any kind of commentary on Wilson's performance, but it's definitely a strong observation about Miles. She's proven time and time again this season that she's carving her own path through the WNBA, and last night's performance was yet another example of exactly that.
Wilson and Caitlin Clark both offered their thoughts on how seriously the game should be played. While speaking to reporters before the game, Wilson said that she hopes players in the league never stop having fun at All-Star, because they don't really get any other breaks during the season. All-Star also isn't exactly a break—public appearances take a huge toll mentally, emotionally, and physically, and players are also connecting with each other in a different environment and for different reasons.
Clark told reporters she wanted the game to have some energy to it since fans pay a lot of money to attend. The fan experience is important to the athletes on the court, and many are cognizant of the fact that a lot of people attending All-Star will otherwise never get the chance to see them play. All-Star puts combinations of players together that otherwise would not exist, and allows long distance fans of teams to see what it's like to watch their favorites play in real life, in front of their faces.
Miles also participated in a celebrity 3-point contest during the weekend, and told The Minnesota Star Tribune that she was taking things one event at a time. The past two months have "flipped" her life "upside down," she said—something she was still getting used to. If Miles keeps playing like she has been this season, that's something she will likely continue getting used to for many years to come.
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