PHOENIX (AP) — Allisha Gray turned WNBA All-Star weekend's opening night into her own show.
The Atlanta Dream guard had a historic evening, becoming the first player to win both the 3-point and skills competition in the same year on Friday.
“It’s very cool. Now I’m glad I accepted the call when they asked me to play in both of them," Gray said. "Now I get another $55K in my pocket.”
Gray received $2,575 from the league for each victory, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. She also got $110,000 from Aflac as part of a partnership between with the WNBPA.
She topped hometown favorite Sophie Cunningham of the Phoenix Mercury by just over 2 seconds in the final of the skills competition. Then she edged Jonquel Jones by one point in the 3-point shootout about 45 minutes later.
“I felt like I was warmed up after the skills challenge, running all over the court," Gray said. "I was a little fatigued from the skills challenge, but I was locked in because I knew another $55K was on the line.”
Jones was looking to become the first post player to win the 3-point contest. She also made the finals in 2021 before losing to four-time champion Allie Quigley. Jones had a chance to win the contest, but her last shot — the two-point money ball — fell short. She held her head in disappointment.
“(Jones) had me nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Gray admitted.
Jones scored 25 points in the opening round — tops amongst the five competitors. Gray had 23 points.
Neither defending champion Sabrina Ionescu or sensational rookie Caitlin Clark competed in the 3-point contest this year. Ionescu will play for the U.S. at the Olympics and is focused on getting ready for the Paris Games. They'll both play in the All-Star game on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
After virtually playing non-stop for nine months between college and the WNBA, Clark just wanted to take some time to relax.
“I think the biggest thing was for me, it's just like I need a break,” she said. "I'm going to take some time for myself to enjoy what I want to do, and at times that can be in the tough position I'm in. But I think it was the healthiest for myself."
Brittney Griner was the only member of the U.S. Olympic Team who participated in either competition. She finished the obstacle course in 46.3 seconds.
There was also a 3-on-3 exhibition game between the U.S. team headed to the Paris Olympics and an under-23 team featuring top college players.
The Olympic team won the tight contest 19-16 as Rhyne Howard scored the final eight points for the victors, hitting four 2-point shots. She finished the game scoring 12 of the team's 19 points.
The game is played with one and two-point baskets for 10 minutes or until a team scores 21 points.
Marina Mabrey, who was traded from Chicago to Connecticut on Wednesday, wore a Sun jersey for the first time. She and Gray participated in both the skills competition and 3-point shootout. Mabrey just missed making the finals of the skills contest. She finished in fifth in the 3-point contest with 19 points.
Ionescu and Becky Hammon won the skills challenge and 3-point contest in separate years. Ionescu won the skills in 2022 and the 3-point contest last year. Hammon, the current coach of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, won the skills in 2007 and the 3-point in 2009.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
FILE - Atlanta Dream's Allisha Gray advances the ball during a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Chicago. Gray became the first player in WNBA history to win both the 3-point and skills competition in the same year, capturing both titles Friday, July 19.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shane Baz allowed two runs and two hits over seven innings, Jose Siri homered and drove in four runs, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 8-3 on Tuesday night.
Baz (3-3) struck out six and walked one, and set a team mark with his fifth consecutive start of giving up three hits or fewer over five-plus innings.
Siri hit one of Tampa Bay's three homers during a four-run fifth inning and extended the Rays lead to 8-3 with his three-run bloop double to left in the eighth.
Junior Caminero, Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe also homered for the Rays. Tampa Bay trails Minnesota by six games for the final AL wild card, and would also have pass Boston, Seattle and Detroit.
“We're not dead," Baz said. “I don't think anybody in this locker room is acting like it. We're still playing hard, and we're going to continue to play hard.”
Triston Casas and Romy Gonzalez homered for Boston, which is five back of the Twins with 11 games remaining.
“It's not a lack of effort,” Boston manger Alex Cora said. “It's not happening for us right now.”
After Caminero hit a fourth-inning solo homer, Josh Lowe and Siri homered during the fifth against Nick Pivetta (5-11) to give the Rays a 3-2 lead.
Caminero said he told Siri — who raised his batting average from .189 to .192 after going 2 for 4 — before the game he would go deep.
“I like how the vibe felt today,” Caminero said through a translator. “A lot of good energy among ourselves.”
Pivetta cramped up in the neck-shoulder area after striking out Logan Driscoll. Pivetta stayed in the game after being checked out and allowed Siri's 339-foot homer down the left-field line and Yandy Díaz's double that ended his night.
Cora expects Pivetta to make his next schedueld start.
Bailey Horn replaced Pivetta and gave up Brandon Lowe's two-run homer that made it 5-2.
Pivetta allowed four runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Casas had seven hits in his previous 49 at-bats before he put the Red Sox up 2-0 with his second-inning homer. Gonzalez hit a pinch-hit homer off Garrett Cleavinger leading of the eighth.
Kevin Kelly worked the ninth to extend his scoreless streak to 20 1/3 innings and complete a three-hitter.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Bryan Mata (right hamstring) will most likely not make his major-league this season.
Rays: Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery) will throw to hitters on Sept. 26. ... Caminero had a stinger on his hand during a seventh-inning at-bat and stayed in the game.
UP NEXT
Cora said RHP Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.24 ERA) will make his first start since Sept. 4 on Wednesday night against Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-6, 3.76 ERA). Houck has been slowed by right shoulder fatigue. Pepiot was pulled after two innings on Sept. 12 because his velocity was down.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jose Caballero forces Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu (52) at second base ande relays the throw to first in time to turn a double play on Triston Casas during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe, left, celebrates with Yandy Diaz after Lowe hit a two-run home run off Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Bailey Horn during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Diaz, left, celebrates after hitting a double off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Looking on is Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri celebrates after hitting a solo home run off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (37) grabs his shoulder after throwing a pitch to the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Pivetta stayed in the game. Looking on is second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe celebrates his solo home run off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe dives but can't get to a single by Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta reacts as Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero runs around the bases following his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero, right, celebrates his solo home run off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta with third base coach Brady Williams during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida, of Japan, fouls off a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Shane Baz pitches to the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
