Brittney Griner named honorary starter in WNBA All-Star Game

The GIST: From the Chicago Sky’s Allie Quigley winning her record fourth three-point contest, the Las Vegas Aces’ Kelsey Plum dropping a record-tying 30 points en route to All-Star Game (ASG) MVP and the Minnesota Lynx’s Sylvia Fowles dunking in her final ASG — there were plenty of wins in the Windy City during this weekend’s W ASG festivities.

The major storylines: As mentioned, Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner was the main focus of the weekend. Griner was named an honorary starter, players changed into jerseys with her name and number at halftime and Chi-Town’s own Chance the Rapper kept the focus on BG during his WNBA-hosted concert.

• On the court, the aforementioned Fowles and Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird played in their respective eighth and 13th ASGs, with both set to retire at the end of the season. Who’s cutting onions?

Second half preview: There’ll be another party when the Sky and Aces duke it out in Chicago for the Commissioner's Cup later this month, but now all eyes are on the playoff push. The defending champion Sky boast the league’s best record and sit atop the Eastern Conference.

• Meanwhile, MVP candidate A’ja Wilson and the Aces were high rolling in the West, but a recent surge from the Storm has tightened the standings.

• Reminder: the eight teams with the highest winning percentage regardless of conference will make the postseason. The race is on.