Washington Captures Shooting Stars
High Schooler Banks, Delle Donne, Austin Lead Washington to Inaugural WNBA Shooting Stars Championship
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Team Washington won the inaugural WNBA All-Star Shooting Stars title on Friday night in Chicago, beating Seattle 31 to 24 in the finals. WTOP reported that Elena Delle Donne, Shakira Austin, and high schooler Jezelle Banks powered the dominant performance, with Banks draining two jaw-dropping 4-point shots from just inside halfcourt.
Seattle's squad struggled in the final round, scoring just 24 points and missing all of their 4-point attempts, according to Fox Sports. Each member of the winning team took home $15,000.
How the New Shooting Stars Contest Works
The Shooting Stars competition made its debut at this year's WNBA All-Star weekend. Teams had 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from seven shooting spots around the court. The contest ran in two rounds, with the top teams advancing to the finals, according to The Hour.
The 4-point shot — fired from just inside halfcourt — was the highest-value attempt on the court. Hitting those shots was the difference-maker. Banks, still in high school, made two of them, giving Washington a cushion Seattle could never overcome.
High Schooler Banks Steals the Spotlight
Jezelle Banks was the breakout star of the night. The high school player competed alongside two WNBA pros and held her own — then some. Her two 4-point makes were the biggest shots of the contest. Bakersfield.com noted that the trio combined for 31 points in the championship round.
Banks joining Delle Donne and Austin made for an unusual but winning mix. Delle Donne is one of the most accurate shooters in WNBA history. Austin is a dominant post player for Washington. Together, the three covered every shooting zone on the court.
Seattle Left Empty-Handed After Missing Every 4-Pointer
Seattle's team finished second with 24 points but could not convert on any of their 4-point attempts. Missing those high-value shots proved costly. Washington's 31-point haul gave them a seven-point margin of victory, per Seattle PI.
The gap between the two teams tells the story clearly. Washington hit the big shots. Seattle did not. In a timed format where every second counts, leaving those 4-point looks empty on the board is nearly impossible to overcome.
Washington Trio Each Earns $15,000 Prize Money
Each of the three Washington players earned $15,000 for winning the title, according to Yakima Herald. That prize goes to Delle Donne, Austin, and Banks — making Banks one of the youngest players ever to earn a WNBA All-Star event paycheck.
The new contest adds another skill-based event to All-Star weekend. With the inaugural edition delivering a surprise star in Banks and a lopsided final, it made a strong first impression as a format worth keeping.
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