International player Jonquel Jones claims historic WNBA All-Star MVP honour
Bahamas-born centre becomes first non-US player to win award as league marks 30th season with high-scoring exhibition at United Center
Jonquel Jones has become the first international player to win the WNBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award, leading Team Spoon to a 129-122 victory over Team Coop on Saturday night. The New York Liberty centre recorded 22 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in 22 minutes of play, shooting 8-of-17 from the field to secure the honours.
The match, held at Chicago’s United Center, marked the league’s 30th season and drew a record attendance of 19,783 spectators. This figure represents a significant increase from the 2022 All-Star Game, which was held at the smaller Wintrust Arena, underscoring the league’s expanding reach and commercial growth.
Team Spoon, captained by Caitlin Clark, benefited from a balanced offensive performance with eight players scoring in double figures. Clark contributed 17 points, including five three-pointers, and added five assists. She opened the game with a rapid burst, scoring 11 points in the first two and a half minutes, including long-range shots from 33 and 37 feet. Her early success was aided by a no-look pass from Olivia Miles, the only rookie selected for the All-Star roster.
On the opposing side, Team Coop, captained by Paige Bueckers, was led by Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 28 points. Marina Mabrey also provided significant offensive output, scoring all 23 of her points in the first half. The game featured 127 three-point attempts, highlighting an offensive-heavy contest with limited defensive intensity.
Historic milestones were recorded throughout the evening. Nneka Ogwumike scored 11 points for Team Spoon, passing Maya Moore’s previous record of 119 career points in All-Star Games. Additionally, Dominique Malonga of Team Coop executed a first-half dunk, the first in an All-Star Game since Sylvia Fowles in 2022, drawing significant crowd reaction.
The rosters were assembled by WNBA legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, who served as general managers. The teams included three former MVPs and eight former champions, with coaching duties handled by Becky Hammon for Team Coop and Cheryl Reeve for Team Spoon. The event concluded a weekend of festivities that began on Friday with a three-point shooting contest won by Azzi Fudd.
