KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was a Big Orange Sweep at AT&T WNBA All-Star Friday Night in Las Vegas, as former Lady Vol standouts Diamond DeShields and Shekinna Stricklen won the WNBA Skills Challenge and Mountain Dew Three-Point Contest, respectively, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
DeShields, who also will play in Saturday’s AT&T WNBA All-Star Game as a reserve for Team Wilson, beat out seven other players to claim victory in the skills event. The Chicago Sky guard came from behind to upend Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones for the title. The contest included the competitors dribbling around obstacles, making a pass into a cylinder, converting a layup and then knocking down a 3-pointer.
After falling behind during the passing portion of the competition, DeShields quickly hit her layup and hustled down the court for her three-point attempt. Seconds after Jones missed her first three-point try, the former UT All-SEC performer delivered from long range to seal the win.
Stricklen, who plays for the Connecticut Sun, claimed victory in the three-point contest with her patented long-range shooting proficiency. She held off Kayla McBride of the Las Vegas Aces, 23-22, in the finals. McBride finished second a year ago as well.
AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2019 will take place on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The 16th WNBA All-Star Game will be televised live by ABC.
In her second year in the league with the Chicago Sky, DeShields is making her first appearance in the WNBA All-Star Game. The Lady Vols have had 10 different former players named to the WNBA All-Star Game, making 32 appearances in the contest. Tennessee has been represented in all 16 of those games by at least one alum.
-UT Athletics
