Caitlin Clark watches on as  Atlanta Dream's Allisha Gray makes HISTORY in WNBA All-Star 3-point contest - after Fever rookie rejected offer to participate

All nan talk heading into tonight's WNBA All-Star 3-point title surrounded Caitlin Clark and her refusal to return portion successful nan celebrated competition.

Yet while Clark watched connected from courtside and recharged her batteries, it was Atlanta Dream prima Allisha Gray who ended up stealing nan show connected a record-breaking night.

After already coming retired connected apical successful nan skills situation earlier successful nan evening, Gray etched her sanction into nan history books erstwhile she toppled nan New York Liberty's Jonquel Jones successful nan all-important 3-point contest. 

The 29-year-old put up a first-round people of 23 earlier registering 22 successful nan last round, which narrowly edged Jones' return of 21. 

That triumph meant she became nan first ever All Star to triumph some competitions connected nan very aforesaid evening, earning her a typical spot successful WNBA folklore. 

Gray has spent nan past 2 years pinch Atlanta aft returning from a little stint successful Israel to activity her measurement backmost into nan WNBA. Prior to her clip pinch Elitzur Ramla, she enjoyed a six-year spell pinch nan Dallas Wings aft being selected pinch nan 4th wide prime successful nan 2017 draft.

This play represents Gray's 2nd All-Star quality aft her debut arena successful 2023. 

Clark, who has emerged arsenic nan biggest prima successful women's hoops complete nan past year, was offered to participate successful nan 3-point title connected Friday night, only to diminution nan invitation up of Saturday's All-Star Game.

The Indiana Fever rookie drew disapproval aft snubbing it, pinch ESPN analyst David Dennis Jr fuming that she had 'no excuse' to do so.

Yet successful a speech pinch reporters up of nan skills challenge, Clark admitted she needs to prioritize her ain wellness and wellbeing aft a hectic twelvemonth successful nan sport. 

'Honestly, I deliberation conscionable rest,' she said erstwhile asked astir not taking portion successful nan competition. 'I've been playing hoops for a twelvemonth straight.

'That's not an easy point to conscionable show up to and sprout disconnected a rack. It's not thing I've ever done before. It's not thing that I've had a batch of clip to practice.

'So I'm conscionable enjoying this break. I deliberation there's gonna beryllium a batch of opportunities for maine to do this astatine immoderate point.'