DeShields, Stricklen Shine as McBride comes up short in Three-point contest

“I was out here playing to win, I really wanted this money for my charity.” Diamond DeShields, 2019 Skills Challenge champion

Las Vegas, NV- After watching her fellow Tennessee Volunteers alum Diamond DeShields come from behind twice to advance and eventually win the Skills competition, Shekinna Stricklen had to sweat through a blistering late charge from Kayla McBride to win the 2019 WNBA three-point contest presented by Mountain Dew.

Despite getting what she said was the unenviable draw of being the first competitor to shoot in the first round, the hometown favorite McBride came out smoking in the first round, recording a blistering first-round score of 22 points. In the final round, the Aces’ sharpshooter would fall in heartbreaking fashion, as she eventually came just one made basket short of tying Stricklen, or flat out winning the competition, as she was unable to surpass Stricklen’s final round tally of 23 points.

Two-time defending champ Alie Quigley fell just shy of qualifying for the finals, recording a score of 19. Unfortunately for Quigley, her score was bested by McBride’s 22 and Shakena Stricklen, who posted a first-round score of 21.

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In the Skills competition that preceded the three-point contest, Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot bested Sami Whitcomb in the first round, despite trailing throughout, when Whitcomb missed her three-point attempt and Vandersloot drained hers immediately after.

Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones did the same in her first-round matchup, as she improbably bested Minnesota Lynx rookie Napheesa Collier in the next 1st round matchup in the exact same fashion as Vandersloot.

DeShields then bested the Lynx’s Odyssey Sims in their first-round matchup, and in the final Round 1 matchup, Brittney Griner threw down a thunderous dunk, AND drained the three-ball, but was inevitably defeated in the first round by Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream.

In Round 2, Jonquel Jones advanced to the final round, as she was pure on her second three-point attempt, eliminating Vandersloot in the process.

In the second semi-final matchup, DeShields was able to knock off Williams to secure her spot in the finals, against Jones.

In the finals, DeShields trailed throughout but was clutch when it counted most, draining the three to claim the title.