Brittney Griner makes emotional and dominant return to the WNBA All-Star Game
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Brittney Griner made an emphatic and emotional return to the WNBA's mid-season showcase event.
Brittney Griner made an emphatic and emotional return to the WNBA's mid-season showcase event.
She scored her team's first six points, put down two dunks and finished with 18 points in the league's All-Star Game on Saturday night.
The sellout crowd roared when Griner was introduced, and clearly moved by the ovation, she tapped her heart with her right hand. There was no doubt, a year after forcefully being absent from this event, that Griner was the star of the show.
"I didn't think I'd be here today," Griner said. "Everyone sending the letters and the love, meant a lot to me."
Griner led Team Stewart, captained by the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart, to a 143-127 over Team Wilson, led by the Aces' A'ja Wilson.
Team Stewart's Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm broke the All-Star Game scoring record with 31 points, setting the mark on a pass from Griner. Maya Moore and Kelsey Plum each had the previous record with 30 points. Loyd earned MVP honors for the game.
Plum actually tied her own record with 30 points, one of four Aces competing for Team Wilson, who received loud ovations from the home crowd in pregame introductions.
