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Sue Bird honored, Kelsey Plum wins MVP in WNBA All-Star Game

Jul 10, 2022, 2:23 PM | Updated: Jul 18, 2022, 3:38 pm


              Team Wilson's Kelsey Plum holds up the MVP trophy after team Wilson defeated Team Stewart in a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Wilson's Kelsey Plum, right, is congratulated by A'ja Wilson after Team Wilson defeated Team Stewart in a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Wilson head coach Becky Hammon talks to players during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game against the Team Stewart in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Wilson's Brionna Jones, left, shoots against Team Stewart's Skylar Diggins-Smith during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Wilson's Candace Parker reacts as she listens to head coach Becky Hammon during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game against the Team Stewart in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Wilson's Kelsey Plum, right, drives to the basket past Team Stewart's Jewell Loyd during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Stewart's Skylar Diggins-Smith, left, and Team Wilson's A'ja Wilson chase the ball during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Wilson's Brionna Jones, right, battles for a loose ball against Team Stewart's Alyssa Thomas, left, and Emma Meesseman during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Stewart's Skylar Diggins-Smith, center, drives to the basket against Team Wilson's Candace Parker, left, and Sylvia Fowles during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Wilson's Candace Parker waves to fans as she walks down to the court before a WNBA All-Star basketball game against the Team Stewart in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Stewart's Nneka Ogwumike, right, shoots over Team Wilson's Dearica Hamby during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Stewart's Kahleah Copper, right, drives to the basket past Team Wilson's Ariel Atkins, left, and Courtney Vandersloot during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
            
              Team Stewart's Ariel Atkins, left, and Team Wilson's Sue Bird battle for a loose ball during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

CHICAGO (AP) — A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and the rest of the WNBA All-Stars lined up along the sideline after halftime, the No. 42 and the name Griner on the back of all of their jerseys.

Team Wilson 134, Team Stewart 112: Box score

Brittney Griner was everywhere Sunday, everywhere except where the league’s best players felt she should be — playing alongside in the marquee WNBA All-Star Game, in which Team Wilson pulled away from Team Stewart for a 134-112 victory.

Griner is in Russia, where she’s been detained since February after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. The eight-time All-Star pleaded guilty Thursday to drug possession charges that could see a sentence of to up to 10 years in prison.

While advocating for Griner’s release, the WNBA also honored Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles in the final All-Star Game for both of the retiring players. Fowles had the day’s biggest highlight, picking up a steal and slamming down a dunk for Team Wilson with 4:04 left in the first half.

Bird, who made six assists, received a huge ovation when she checked out with 2:10 left, and acknowledged the cheers with a wave.

Las Vegas aces guard Kelsey Plum was named MVP after she scored 30 points for Team Wilson in her first All-Star appearance. Sabrina Ionescu had 15, and Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker finished with 15 points and eight rebounds in her hometown.

Jonquel Jones, the reigning WNBA MVP who plays for the Connecticut Sun, had 29 points and 13 rebounds for Team Stewart.

Seattle Storm star Jewell Loyd had 21 points for Team Stewart, all on 3-pointers.

Just before the second half, when the players wore Griner’s name and No. 42 on the back of their jerseys, Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot hugged Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife.

“We’re thinking of Brittney Griner at this time,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “She remains a huge priority for us, continues to have our full support. Fully focused on getting her home safely and as soon as possible.”

It was the first WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago, home of the defending champion Sky.

The league landed in the Windy City at perhaps its strongest position since it began play in 1997. Viewership is up, some major corporate partners have signed on and a wave of promising young stars like Wilson, Ionescu and Plum are moving to the forefront.

Engelbert announced this year’s WNBA Finals teams will travel on charter flights, and the league is increasing its postseason bonus pools by almost 50% to $500,000. Next season will be extended to 40 games, up from 36 this year, and Engelbert said the league has been meeting with potential ownership groups for expansion teams.

“We continue to work really hard on the transformation of the business to improve the player experience,” Engelbert said.

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