The WNBA announced Friday the participants for Saturday’s skills challenge, held as part of the All-Star weekend in Chicago.
The contest will feature the Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu and the Sun’s Jonquel Jones, as well as the Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot and Azurá Stevens.
There will be eight teams in the event, each featuring one WNBA player and one athlete from the Elite Youth Basketball League. The EYBL’s Nike Nationals are also taking place in Chicago over the weekend.
“I’m really honored and excited to participate in the WNBA Skills Challenge,” said Ionescu. “As a Nike EYBL alum, having the chance to now be paired with a young EYBL star in this event is extra special. I’m looking forward to everything that All-Star weekend has to offer.”
Stevens and Indiana rookie NaLyssa Smith will be the only participants who were not selected for Sunday’s All-Star game.
The skills challenge will pit Smith, the No. 2 overall draft pick, against No. 1 overall pick and first-time All-Star Rhyne Howard. The Dream rookie will also be competing in the 3-point contest.
“It means a lot to me to have been chosen to participate in the AT&T All-Star game, the MTN Dew 3-point competition and now the skills competition all in my first season,” Howard said. “Competing against the players I have looked up to for years on a stage like this is going to feel surreal, but I am excited to show the world what I can do.”
The skills challenge will feature a three-round, bracket-style competition, which will air with the 3-point competition at 3 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN.