SEATTLE – The day before Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game at Key Arena, many of the
players who would be in the game for the first time in their careers were
answering questions about what to expect from the intensity of an exhibition
that also happens to feature the best players on the planet.
A whole lot of them said they’d be watching Maya Moore to set the tone. After
all, one of the most competitive players in the game, who has a pile of
championships to prove it, is probably a good tone-setter.
In fact, when Moore went with a group of players to the WNBA Cares Event, they
just came out and asked her.
“They were some questions like, ‘How hard…what’s the deal?’,” Moore said. “I
said somewhere between shoot-around and your regular season. That’s the lane.
That was the wisdom that I dropped.”
So add another line to Moore’s already-legendary resume – Official Barometer of
All-Star Game Intensity. Well, actually, add one more after that…2017 All-Star
Game MVP.
Moore, the five-time All-Star who has been on the All-Star team every season
since she began her pro career in 2011, led the veteran West to a 130-121
victory over an East team filled with some of the league’s brightest young
talent. The two-time All-Star MVP and three-time WNBA Champion finished
Saturday’s game with West-leading 23 point, including 5 3-pointers, to go with
three rebounds and three assists.
“Yeah, that’s just Maya and whenever Maya is playing the game, she only knows
one way, whether it’s an All-Star Game or Game 5 of the Finals and that’s what
makes her really, really special,” said West coach Cheryl Reeve, who coaches
Moore in Minnesota. “In an All-Star Game, you get a little bit of different
personalities out there, different concepts and Maya wants to win the game.”
Moore said she thought the game was played a great pace.
“You don’t want anyone to get hurt, but you want to play with a certain
intensity and show off your athleticism and thought we did that,” Moore said.
In fact, when Atlanta guard Layshia Clarendon picked off a pass from Nneka
Ogwumike, went to the other end and drained a 3-pointer to pull the East within
96-90 at the start of the third quarter, Moore said it was time to change the
tone a bit.
“I think the fourth quarter is kind of the natural place for a
this-is-as-intense-as-it’s-going-to-get moment,” Moore said. “Layshia started it
off and that cut the lead. So we handled our business.” Moore had eight points
in that final quarter.
But she had plenty of support throughout the game. Nneka Ogwumike finished with
22 points on 11-for-15 shooting with seven rebounds. Candace Parker, Diana
Taurasi, Chelsea Gray and Rebekkah Brunson all finished in double figures.
After the game, Moore collected her MVP trophy and headed back to the locker
room. On the way, she was stopped by fans and friends, and even a couple of
Washington State women’s basketball players who were completely star-struck to
be taking a picture with their idol.
Moore will go back to Minneapolis with her Lynx teammates to continue their
quest for another title. The Lynx are 16-2 with 16 games to go and are currently
in prime position for one of the league’s top two seeds in the playoffs. Moore
and Minnesota are looking to reach the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in the
last seven seasons. Moore took a moment after the All-Star celebration to be
reminded of the business that needs to be tended to back in a Lynx uniform.
Moore admits Minnesota is still carrying the sting of last year’s Finals loss to
Los Angeles into every game.
“We carry those things with us to push us forward,” Moore said. “We still feel
like we are peaking this season, with Sylvia playing so well. We are focused on
really being as good as we can get, because nothing is promised for next year.
We want to get everything we can out of this season.”
The All-Star weekend doesn’t quite represent a break, but an opportunity to play
for fun, engage the community and experience that Moore said will help her
recharge for the second half.
“Yeah, it’s not really a break at all. I think it’s one of those weekends where
you appreciate the fact that you’re an All-Star that you’re playing well, you
are healthy and you can represent at this point of the season,” Moore said. “We
are on the go from the minute we get here. But there is nothing like playing the
game, getting out on the floor, laughing, joking, kind of getting loose. The
pressure is off a little bit.
“So those moments are sweet that you carry with you going into the second half
of the season.”
