WNBA ALL-STAR GAME

July 15, 2023

Breanna Stewart

Jewell Loyd

A'ja Wilson

Brittney Griner

Postgame Media Conference

Q. A'ja, was there a defensive game plan to allow openings to the lane when BG was there?

A'JA WILSON: Yeah, definitely. The biggest thing is watch your head, don't get dunked on. That was the defensive assignment. Any time you see BG in the paint I think you should just move out of the way because we don't know how that will end. So, yeah, that was definitely a big defensive scheme of ours.

Q. Looking at your performance tonight, Jewell, did you get any bit of inspiration from what Sabrina was able to do in the 3-Point?

JEWELL LOYD: I think I played hard because my parents didn't have a gift for their anniversary, so I think this will be acceptable. I hope it is. So it was more so to kind of gift for my parents.

Q. Jewell, I asked you pregame about going for MVP. Obviously, you won MVP. When did you decide that you were going to go for the award and was there a moment in which you were like, I'm going for it?

JEWELL LOYD: It was a goal of mine, to be honest with you. It was a plan of mine. But at the same time my niece and nephew wanted me to go for it, so anything for them, right?

Q. Brittney, this was just a huge moment to have you here in Las Vegas and how this community embraced you and kind of how this was just the best All-Star Game ever.

BRITTNEY GRINER: No, it really was. Like I said, I'm just happy to be here in this building. All-Star is a fun time that we get to all be together. You really get to learn everybody's personality. What you see on the court is fun, but in the locker room, a couple of hours, three hours, four hours before the game, five hours before the game, that's where all the little moments that you take away always happen. That's what I always look forward to.

And then just being here with them after everything that they did to support me through one of the toughest times, it just means everything to be right here.

Q. Brittney, obviously with Phoenix getting the All-Star next year that's -- I'm sure you're really excited about that. Can you just talk about having a chance to play in Phoenix again for All-Star?

BRITTNEY GRINER: I'm lucky enough for it to be coming back again. I know that Phoenix and the Mercury organization, they're going to put on one hell of an All-Star. I know that, for sure. So I'm looking forward to it, to play there in front of our fans. I know the city is going to come out. Everybody is going to turn up. So it's going to be a good time. It's going to be a real good time. Hopefully we have time to play the game.

Q. For Brittney, I wanted to know what does it mean to you to hold the league record in dunks?

BRITTNEY GRINER: That's a good one to hold. I'm sure -- like, I get on Instagram, I see it, a young girl dunking, the whole crowd around them, the AAU days. So it's coming. I know someone is going to come and break it eventually. But just being able to give younger girls someone to see doing it, I think that's what matters the most to me, honestly.

Q. That ovation you got before the game, what did that mean to you?

BRITTNEY GRINER: It means a lot. Like I said, that's all the people that you never met before, that you didn't know, that wrote a letter, or I'm still finding messages people have sent me on social media, different posts. Like, I'll be on someone's page and see a post, or a fan will show me something or send me something. To have that ovation and all those little memories that I can cherish now, it means the world. So it was no question that I was going to come and play as quickly as I did. They never wavered in support, and I was never going to waver in being on the court and trying to give them a show.

Q. Jewell, when you think about the season you've had so far and being able to just have so much more of an offensive load coming in now and winning All-Star Game MVP, how do you kind of look back at what you've done so far and the ways that you've been pushed and have really kind of achieved that level of play?

JEWELL LOYD: Honestly, I think it all started in the offseason for me. It was definitely a different approach in what I did. I knew that things would be different coming back to Seattle. So I prepared probably the hardest I've ever done in anything, knowing that I would just need it physically and mentally. But at the same time, I'm just trying to stay present as possible. I don't try to think too much ahead or worry about anything I can't really control. Just stay ten toes down.

Q. Brittney, what's the difference, from year one to year nine in All-Star, and did you have any advice for the newbies this year?

BRITTNEY GRINER: The difference from the first one to now, I know what to expect. I know what to expect. I'm not like the deer in the headlights. I remember that first one, I was just like, ooh, what do I do? Just follow the vet, just do what they do and don't make too much noise.

But advice I gave to the newbies? Enjoy it, take it in. It's an honor to be here to put on for the fans, make a show. And like I said, just enjoy those little moments. They mean the most after they're done. In the moment it might not mean, like, anything, but afterward that's when you know.

Q. Next year's All-Star Game is in Phoenix, your city. What should we expect for next year?

BRITTNEY GRINER: A lot of fun. A lot of fun. It's going to be some special things going on, so you're just going to have to come and see what happens.

Q. Brittney and Jewell, usually you're surrounded by other All-Stars. Don't want to bring up your season currently, but being in that role with the challenges, how have you been inspired to be leaders with the challenge this season and what should we expect from you being the leaders for your team moving forward?

BRITTNEY GRINER: Coming out of All-Star break we were able to rest and regroup, kind of -- not wash away but take off what happened, put that behind us, buckle down and make a new run. Just as a leader, just being more vocal, homing in on the small things. It's always the small details. When you go lax and then someone gets a backdoor cut, like, eliminating all those little things and just being vocal and saying that.

Q. A'ja, simple question, how do you think the city of Vegas represented All-Star weekend?

A'JA WILSON: I think we did pretty well. I feel like that's a question for you guys. I live here, so the city is always lit. But I think we did a pretty decent job of taking care of the All-Stars because that's what we always need to do. Like, these elite women need to be taken care of and I hope that Vegas did a great job of doing that. I hope the beds were comfortable in the Wynn, stayed in the Wynn this year, period. So, yeah, I hope the city showed out. I definitely felt it and we appreciate everybody for coming out.

Q. BG, this question is for you. When you hear the word All-Star -- well, WNBA All-Star, what does that mean to you?

BRITTNEY GRINER: Ooh, WNBA All-Star? It means you get to go perform, honestly. That's how I look at it. When I think of All-Star, you just get to go put on a show. A little bit different from your regular season. There's a little bit of a bigger goal at the end of that one. We always want the W, but just being able to perform and put on a show, that's like the biggest thing for me.

Q. Jewell, Dwyane Wade obviously just invested in the Sky. That's the franchise that is rooted in your hometown. What are your thoughts on his involvement and his investment?

JEWELL LOYD: Honestly, the league is growing and we all know that, and any really good investor who wants to come in and help support the league, I think we're all on board for. I think he posted it -- basically put your money where your mouth is. Like, if you're going to support it, put money behind it, and he's doing that. Hopefully other people follow. I think we're excited to see the growth of the league.

Q. A'ja, I wanted to ask you two questions: One, what got into you when the ball went up there and it wedged and you decided to dance? And then I want to know what went into the quadruple team of BG, I think, at some point in the fourth quarter.

A'JA WILSON: I mean, first I had to hit the dance because the the music just took over my body, honestly. I kind of blacked out and had a moment. But at the same time I knew I had to get the basketball off the freaking basket.

And then quadruple-teaming BG, what else were we supposed to do? We were already down by 50, so we had to at least do something to show a little effort because people came to see us perform and do our thing. So it didn't really work out. We tried double-teaming Jewell. She still got out of the trap. Team Wilson had a couple breakdowns. We got to go back to the drawing board. But it's all right. We'll be back.

Q. I wanted to ask what your favorite moment was from the game tonight -- coming out to the fans, the ovation they gave you, and the first timeout with the Bring Our Families Home stuff on the Jumbotron or the three dunks -- what was your favorite moment?

BRITTNEY GRINER: I mean, everything that you just said, but especially seeing all the legends from our side at the game. They paved the way for us. So just being able to see some of them there, Sue , Syl, Mon, I think that was one of the biggest moments, getting to see them off the court now and interacting with them.

Q. Breanna, I think you were the top distributor in this game. You had nine assists. So I wanted to ask you about that. And any of you guys can add in on this. We have not had a true post player be All-Star MVP since Candace back in 2013. Any predictions that maybe a post player will get it next year?

BREANNA STEWART: I'm very proud of my nine assists. Is that a career high? Maybe (laughing). As far as a post representing All-Star MVP, I think we just need to shoot more threes. Threes and four-pointers.

BRITTNEY GRINER: I think, yeah, that's really what it is.

A'JA WILSON: Yeah.

BREANNA STEWART: Or if someone gets a triple-double, maybe that just automatically puts them. We need to be better.

BRITTNEY GRINER: We got to be better.

A'JA WILSON: We will be better.

BRITTNEY GRINER: We will be.

Q. Question for BG and Stewie. First off, Stewie, you took BG first, so curious for BG, like, what that means to you and everybody here being so excited to have you back, and then for Stewie, just why was BG your choice?

BRITTNEY GRINER: Well, I was honored, first pick, so I knew I had to do something so I can pay that back. Those dunks and getting the W, I think that may have did it right there. But I was honored. I was happy. Our season got cut a little short overseas playing together, so just being back on the court with her and with Sloot on the same team, that was pretty special for me, honestly.

Q. A'ja, Stewie, the Team Stewart versus Team Wilson series is now tied 1-1. Are we looking forward to a potential Game 3 in Phoenix and who is going to be taking that if we do get that?

A'JA WILSON: Yeah, I'm definitely looking for it. This wasn't a good showing by us. We got to do better. But, yeah, congratulations, Stewie.

BREANNA STEWART: Thank you. I'm must say we were working on ball screens yesterday in practice. We were doing a lot --

A'JA WILSON: My team, we had a curfew last night, and I don't think they got there.

BRITTNEY GRINER: Did someone check your room, though?

A'JA WILSON: Listen, I was out checking everybody else's room. They didn't need to check mine.

BREANNA STEWART: I was supplying water to my team, making sure everybody was hydrated and ready to go.

A'JA WILSON: This wasn't our best showing, but we'll be back in Phoenix. Catch us there.

Q. What's something that you learned this week that you think will be beneficial throughout your career?

BRITTNEY GRINER: Go to bed on time. Go to bed on time and drink a lot of water.

BREANNA STEWART: Yes, drink water. Make sure you eat. When you're really busy sometimes you forget to eat.

A'JA WILSON: Eat. Eat. I haven't had a meal since L.A.

BRITTNEY GRINER: I had a snow cone. I had a snow cone on the bench.

BREANNA STEWART: I asked for a blue raspberry. It never came.

BRITTNEY GRINER: Tigers blood. It was good. It was fire.

A'JA WILSON: I missed out. That's why y'all won.

BREANNA STEWART: You could have come to our team.

BRITTNEY GRINER: I had a plate of bacon at breakfast, Jack in the Box.

A'JA WILSON: All right. Makes sense. This seems like sabotage.

Q. Breanna, I just saw that you had a chance during the halftime break to get out there with your kid. What was that like for you, that experience here at the All-Star Game?

BREANNA STEWART: Ruby has had the opportunity to be at two All-Star Games now. Last year we saw some pictures, and she was so small. To see her now moving around. I think she was interested in Kehlani, but more so the lights and everything orange on the floor.

To have her be around so many amazing women, so many role models to look up to, she doesn't quite know what she's seeing yet, but this is going to be her second family and a lot of great female athletes to kind of idolize.

Q. What was the deal with Nneka that you had spoken about, BG? And then I know players were asked yesterday about you dunking. Was that something that you guys had all talked about?

BRITTNEY GRINER: Everybody kept saying, well, BG, we got to get you a dunk. I'm like, what? Come on. It was just a little friendly little rivalry. I don't know, like, get some dunks, but next year.

BREANNA STEWART: She was supposed to have five dunks.