Allie Quigley of Sky becomes the first professional basketball player to win four three-point competitions.
The most decorated three-point shooter in WNBA/NBA history, Allie Quigley of the Sky, warmed up with teammates Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker at McCormick Place hours before she competed in her fifth three-point competition.
Parker stood inches from Quigley’s body, seemingly simulating the pressured situation she would feel later in the day. Vandersloot, Quigley’s wife, served as a makeshift ball rack, methodically handing her a basketball after each attempt.
Quigley’s teammates gave her straightforward advice, but Parker gave her blunt words.
All of my teammates simply told me to enjoy myself, After practice on Saturday, Quigley said. However, Candace advised me to triumph.
After claiming her third three-point championship the previous year, Quigley vowed she wouldn’t take part in the competition again. It was the first time in her professional life that she remembered being booed in unison by a crowd. However, the All-Star Weekend hometown stage and the support of her friends and family convinced her to end her three-point retirement.
All Quigley could think of as she walked up to the ball rack and heard the announcer begin the countdown was, “This is your time; go for it,” she said.
Her shot effortlessly went through the net.
With Vandersloot and Parker watching from the scorer’s table, Quigley won the first round after scoring 26 points, the most out of the six contestants. Ariel Atkins of the Mystics and Rhyne Howard of the Dream both finished with 24 points to advance to the next round.
Quigley’s second-round performance was even better than that of Atkins and Howard. Parker, who was sporting Quigley’s DePaul jersey, and Vandersloot paced the sidelines as they worked to calm Parker down. Vandersloot and Parker became more and more overjoyed with each money ball Quigley made.
The only person Quigley could hear as she approached her money-ball rack was four-time All-Star Jonquel Jones, who was telling her that the title was hers. The crowd, including mom Christine, who was watching from the stands with her family, rose to their feet as the buzzer sounded. She scored 30 points in the end.
You should rename it the Allie Quigley three-point contest, Parker exclaimed after Quigley received her award.
With three three-point championships, Quigley entered the competition tied for the most with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.
This was the most enjoyable part of my weekend. James Wade, general manager/coach for Sky, said. “For her to experience this in her hometown adds to the Quigley legend,” she said. I’m so excited to see the movie.
The skills competition, which featured Vandersloot and Sky forward Azura Stevens, was followed by Quigley’s historic victory. Both were eliminated in the opening round, with Stevens losing to Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, who went on to win.
Quigley’s fourth three-point trophy will be added to Vandersloot and Quigley’s trophy cabinet at home. Quigley later declared that there is no chance that she will compete for a fifth title.
The path Quigley took in the WNBA was anything but typical. In her first four years in the league, she played for four different teams before almost giving up. After taking a year off from the WNBA, Quigley finally found success after signing with the Sky.
She gave honest advice to younger players who were catching up to her.
Sometimes the things you want to accomplish won’t happen immediately, she said. It’s an adventure. You must persevere, be teachable, an excellent teammate, and never stop learning.
Skills participants:
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Courtney Vandesloot, Chicago Sky
Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun
Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
Nalyssa Smith, Indiana Fever
Azurá Stevens, Chicago Sky
Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
Three-point participants:
Allie Quigley, Chicago Sky
Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
