Rapid recap: 2024 Phoenix Mercury all-star weekend

The Phoenix Mercury hosted one of the most impactful WNBA All-Star Weekends of all time.

This was the third time the franchise hosted, and with all eyes on Phoenix, the Valley delivered. The weekend helped highlight the importance of women’s basketball and the WNBA on a national stage.

It all began Thursday with the grand opening of the Mercury’s $100,000,000 practice facility, which includes two full-sized courts named after Diana Taurasi.

Taurasi, when speaking to the media at the unveiling, said, “This is probably the best facility in the world, and not only in women’s, but I think in men’s sports too.”

From there, the weekend was a star-studded affair. Jason Sudeikis, Aubrey Plaza, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Sheryl Swoopes, Paige Bueckers, Marvin Harrison Jr., Kyler Murray, Vanessa Bryant and her family, recording artist Ty Dolla $ign, and Shannon Sharpe were all in Phoenix for the festivities.

Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein and head coach Nate Tibbetts made rounds to every scheduled event in the arena and attended all the various activities around downtown.

Additionally, the Mercury’s own Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Natasha Cloud, Sophie Cunningham, and Natasha Mack all were present throughout the weekend.

On Friday, Griner and Cunningham both participated in the Skills Challenge.

Cunningham advanced to the finals of the Skills Challenge and finished with a time of 34.5 seconds which put pressure on the eventual winner, Allisha Gray.

On Saturday, Griner and Taurasi suited up for Team USA’s first in a string of “friendly” exhibitions as the squad gets ready to compete for an eighth consecutive gold medal this summer in Paris.

In a stunning result, the WNBA All-Star defeated Team USA 117-109. Taurasi scored 14 points on 3-for-7 from deep, and had six rebounds and five assists.

Brittney Griner had 10 points and seven rebounds in a reserve role.

In all, the weekend was marked by great community engagement, fan experience, and big strides in the growth of the game. Players, teams, league representatives, celebrities, and fans all came together for a special weekend in Phoenix to celebrate the WNBA’s rapid ascension.