The WNBA roared into its 30th-season celebration on Saturday, drawing a record-breaking crowd as young talent etched new history into the league’s fabric.
A staggering 19,783 fans packed Chicago’s United Center for the All-Star Game, marking the highest attendance ever. This energy fuelled a high-scoring contest, with Jonquel Jones delivering a standout performance for Team Spoon.
Jones, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. Her efforts helped Caitlin Clark’s Team Spoon secure a 129-122 victory over Marina Mabrey’s Team Coop.
Eight players from Team Spoon reached double figures, including Allisha Gray with 19 points and Caitlin Clark with 17. The defence-light affair saw an astonishing 127 three-point attempts, according to Fox News.
Yet, the game’s true showstopper arrived in the second quarter. Seattle Storm centre Dominique Malonga, aged just 20, received a pass from Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese and threw down a landmark dunk.
Malonga, standing 6-foot-6, became only the seventh player in league history to dunk in an All-Star Game, the Storm confirmed. The WNBA later announced she is the youngest player ever to achieve this feat during the marquee event.
The record crowd and Malonga’s historic moment signal a vibrant new chapter for the WNBA. With the league’s 30th season now in full swing, its burgeoning popularity looks set to continue its impressive trajectory.
